This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Player view’ series, this content strand is where we put ourselves in the shoes of a given player, and offer an opinion-based outlook on the perspective on the situation at hand...

While there are plenty of clubs whose players may feel they are not in the easiest of situations right now, there are surely few for whom that sentiment will be stronger, than the ones currently playing at Bolton Wanderers.

Not only do those players on the books at the former Premier League club have to cope with the fact that, as a result of the club's recent financial problems, they are a side largely made up of loanees, youngsters and former free-agents, but those financial issues also mean that Wanderers have started the League One season with a 12 point deduction that has already left them with a mountain to climb in their battle to avoid relegation this season.

Yet despite that, it seems as though Bolton players are going to be pushed to the very limit by their new manager Keith Hill in a bid to stay in the third-tier, with the former Rochdale boss recently warning his squad that they are going to have to 'suffer' in order to compete this season.

But while those sort of comments may feel like a daunting prospect for the vast majority of Wanderers' squad, there may be one player in particular, who will feel that some of Hill's recent claims, could be about to give him a very welcome sense of freedom when he is on the football pitch.

Having been one of nine players to join Bolton on the final day of the summer transfer window - signing a deal until the end of the season - Ali Crawford - formerly of Doncaster Rovers - has been a regular feature for Wanderers since then.

So far this season, the attacking midfielder has made five appearances in all competitions for the Trotters, and broke his scoring duck for the club earlier this week, with a 25-yard free-kick in an EFL Trophy draw with Rochdale.

That is something that Crawford may now feel has given him a fresh opportunity at Bolton.

Speaking about the 28-year-old in the aftermath of the Rochdale game, Hill revealed that that is the sort impact he is looking for from Crawford going forward, with the Bolton boss suggesting that he would prefer for the midfielder to focus on expressing himself with moments such as his free-kick at Spotland, even if it comes at the expense of tracking back and getting involved in some of the "nitty-gritty" side of the game.

That is a role that Crawford should surely be relishing.

Given he has already shown that he can do that job with his effort against Rochdale, Crawford will be confident that he can continue to do that throughout the course of the season, something which he must feel will put him in a strong position going further forward.

If he can perform such a role to the point where he is the one to provide those vital goals and assists that keep Bolton in this division against all odds and expectations this season, it will be a huge feather in his cap.

Considering the perilous position Bolton are in however, it seems that even if Crawford's contribution is not enough to keep them in the third tier, he may still be able to catch the eye enough to secure himself an opportunity beyond the end of this season, be that with Bolton or another club elsewhere.

With the challenge that Bolton and their squad look set to face this season, the fact that Crawford appears to have been handed a free role this season is something that may generate some degree of envy from some of his teammates who are left to put in those hard miles.

That, however, is not an issue Crawford can afford to worry about.

While there may be some semblance of normality around Bolton right now, it still seems that nothing is certain beyond the current campaign, meaning Crawford understandably still needs to think about securing his long-term future at some point, and he won't be the first Bolton player who has had to do that in recent years.

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