Bolton boss Dougie Freedman has revealed that Trotters midfielder Chris Eagles turned down the chance to join the Blues and Charlton prior to last week’s emergency loan deadline. The 28-year-old is currently out of favour at the Reebok Stadium but Freedman dismisses claims that there has been falling out with the one-time Manchester United trainee.

“There was a Charlton phone call and we said to him he could go and speak with them and play some football, which he didn’t take up,” Freedman told the Bolton News.

“Then we had a call from Ipswich, but Chris felt the location wasn’t right for him. I can’t guarantee him football right now so I thought it right to give him the chance, but he didn’t take it.”

He added: “It is not the case that I have a problem with him. If he continues to work hard and knuckle down, he’ll be available for selection.”

Eagles hasn’t played since starting the 1-1 draw at Millwall on February 15th, although has spent some time on the sidelines with an eye infection recently but is back in full training now.

Freedman says other players established themselves in the side in his absence: “We’ve grown into a team where certain players have come in and held on to their position. I can only pick 10 outfield players.

“You’d like to think the ones not picked would be fighting their way back in, but some can’t quite handle that situation, some sulk, some can’t handle the mental side and don’t train every week.

“Chris had an eye problem and we went to Leeds, won 5-1, and he found himself out of the team.”

Eagles is out of contract in the summer and seems unlikely to be offered new terms by Bolton with Derby having been linked with a close season move.

Hemel Hempstead-born Eagles joined the Manchester United academy from Watford when 14 but was unable to establish himself as a regular first-team player at Old Trafford.

He spent time on loan back at Watford (twice), Sheffield Wednesday and in Holland with NEC while with the Red Devils before joining Burnley on a permanent basis in 2008. He moved on to Bolton three years later.

Photo: Action Images

Superblue95 added 14:34 - Apr 2 Talented lad but better off without him based on his attitude to playing football. Even Freedman basically said he has been sulking since getting dropped. Quite happy to sit on the bench with his prem wages rather than come and play football
4

essexboy added 17:44 - Apr 2 8th place not good enough ah! Then your not worth having.Fly back to ya nest.!
1

blueboy1981 added 18:12 - Apr 2 Garv - ..... Players either want to play football, or not - he currently isn't, and obviously isn't that keen to do so. It doesn't involve up rooting the Family to go on loan does it ??? A decent,keen, ambitious player would have jumped at the chance - let's move on, and forget this one. A good miss.
2

muccletonjoe added 18:22 - Apr 2 Some of the comments on here goes to show the reputation footballers have acquired for themselves , very often they are right too . we have our own sulky take the money individual , but we have offloaded very close to a team full over the past 2 years
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:39 - Apr 2 Ipswich and Bolton are miles apart. I think hes settled in T' North. He had a couple of blinding seasons for Burnley a couple years back didn't he? Of8 the boil since though. I thought he was a winger so ny guess is he was an alt to Henshall?
1

warktheline added 18:58 - Apr 2 He looks too handsome for our ugly style of play. Wonder how long he takes pruning those eyebrows. Good job he never played in the Beattie and Hunter era....don't thing his hair-do would of enjoyed it much. What about Butch, oh dear....shudder to think.
1

Marshalls_Mullet added 20:07 - Apr 2 Don't want his baby bentley with reg E4GLS in the car park. Prima Donna.
0

FrimleyBlue added 07:26 - Apr 3 Has anyone taken the time to look at Eagles previous clubs. All up north near his family I completely understand why he didn't come here. There's more to life than football
0

Hegansheroes added 07:57 - Apr 3 Some pathetic and nasty comments. Maybe all these people have an insight into Eagles' life or maybe Eagles decided he wanted to play football not what MM plays & has doubts about MM , his tactics etc. I certainly do & this was born out by his poor team selection last Saturday. Why continue to play Hunt & Anderson & drop Wordsworth for a shaky Skuse
0

Hegansheroes added 07:57 - Apr 3 Some pathetic and nasty comments. Maybe all these people have an insight into Eagles' life or maybe Eagles decided he wanted to play football not what MM plays & has doubts about MM , his tactics etc. I certainly do & this was born out by his poor team selection last Saturday. Why continue to play Hunt & Anderson & drop Wordsworth for a shaky Skuse
0

Hegansheroes added 07:58 - Apr 3 Some pathetic and nasty comments. Maybe all these people have an insight into Eagles' life or maybe Eagles decided he wanted to play football not what MM plays & has doubts about MM , his tactics etc. I certainly do & this was born out by his poor team selection last Saturday. Why continue to play Hunt & Anderson & drop Wordsworth for a shaky Skuse
0

Hegansheroes added 07:58 - Apr 3 Some pathetic and nasty comments. Maybe all these people have an insight into Eagles' life or maybe Eagles decided he wanted to play football not what MM plays & has doubts about MM , his tactics etc. I certainly do & this was born out by his poor team selection last Saturday. Why continue to play Hunt & Anderson & drop Wordsworth for a shaky Skuse
0

Hegansheroes added 07:58 - Apr 3 Some pathetic and nasty comments. Maybe all these people have an insight into Eagles' life or maybe Eagles decided he wanted to play football not what MM plays & has doubts about MM , his tactics etc. I certainly do & this was born out by his poor team selection last Saturday. Why continue to play Hunt & Anderson & drop Wordsworth for a shaky Skuse
0

buryblue77 added 10:32 - Apr 3 @ FarringdonBlue, like yourself I hardly ever pick up on people's mistakes, it's not like this is a spelling/grammar/punctuation contest but I've always found it amusing when people describe footballers as being before Madonnas!
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raycrawfordswig added 11:53 - Apr 3 Waiting for Wigan to call
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SouperJim added 14:07 - Apr 3 @Hegansheroes you're missing the point completely. It's a LOAN for ONE MONTH. Nobody was asking him to up sticks and move here permanently, just play a bit of football in a promotion chasing side as he comes to the end of his contract. Total no-brainer for any self-respecting footballer who is actually interested in playing football.
3

TangoAlphaNovember added 19:52 - Apr 4 pre Madonna is, of course, the wife of that international leader Baracco Barner
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