Former Norwich City and West Ham United striker Dean Ashton has given his thoughts on Christian Doidge and the treatment he has received at Bolton Wanderers. 

The striker recently returned to Forest Green Rovers after it transpired the Trotters would be unable to pay the fee to make the move permanent, and Ashton has called on Rovers to rally around Doidge.

"I think it's really harsh on him," The EFL on Quest pundit exclusively told Football League World. 

"He did brilliantly with Forest Green, got himself in the shop window and got that move that he would have craved to the Championship.

"Now to be told actually, that's not going to carry on and you've got to go back to your old club and down the divisions, I think it will have hurt him.

"When you're down there you dream of playing higher up and when you get that move you feel as if you've worked so hard to get there and to have that knocked back probably will hit him slightly.

"So it is really important the people at Forest Green bolster that bit of confidence that he will have lost."

Doidge scored 20 League Two goals during the 2017/18 season to earn the move to Bolton this summer on an initial loan with a view to a permanent move in January.

With the Lancashire side now unable to pay the fee required to make the move permanent, he has returned to the League Two club.

The 26-year-old came on from the bench just after the hour mark against Oldham Athletic as he looked to add to the four goals he scored for the club prior to his move, but the match finished goalless.

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