YOUNG Bolton Wanderers midfielder Ronan Darcy is believed to have been one of Swindon Town's trialists in a pre-season friendly against Melksham Town at the weekend.

According to the Bolton News' chief sports reporter Marc Iles, Darcy has been identified as Swindon's number eight on Saturday.

The 21-year-old midfielder still has a year left on his Trotters' contract but was allowed to feature for the League Two side at the Oakfield Stadium.

Darcy's profile fits the kind of player Swindon have looked to sign this summer, with five of the club's six confirmed signings so far this summer aged 22 or younger.

Neither club has yet confirmed that Darcy played in the game – but Iles believes that photos taken on the day clearly identify the Liverpool-born playmaker, who has been training with Bolton's B-team squad since the players returned from their summer holidays last month.

Darcy spent the majority of last season out on loan, first at Norwegian side Sogndal, then in Scotland with Queen’s Park.

Iles said that the 21-year-old is keen to play regular football this season but the chance of doing that at first-team level for Wanderers now looks slim.

Wiltshire Times:

As reported by Adver Sport on Saturday, Swindon head coach Scott Lindsey has not specified which trialists who played in the Melksham game will be invited back for next weekend’s game against Swindon Supermarine.

Seven hopefuls began the game while at least one other came on as a second-half substitute.

Darcy has made 35 senior appearances for Wanderers, having made his debut against Nottingham Forest in the Championship aged just 17.

He featured for just six minutes last season, however, and has not started a game since November 20, when he turned out against Newcastle United’s Under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy.

The 21-year-old is the last remaining member of Wanderers’ youngest-ever starting line-up, which featured against Coventry City in August 2019 and fought for a 0-0 draw.