TOM White is determined to make the most of his first chance in the EFL.

The Wanderers loanee has arrived on a season-long deal from Blackburn Rovers but has only played Under-23s football at Ewood Park.

The vast majority of the former Carlisle youngster’s experience has come in the National League – first with Gateshead and then under Ian Evatt as Barrow won the title last season.

Now 23, White believes his Football League bow is overdue.

“It’s a milestone,” he told The Bolton News.

“Obviously once I’ve made one appearance I’ll be looking for the second one and the third one so I know the job’s not done once I get the chance to play in the Football League.

“I’ve got aspirations and in my opinion I shouldn’t have had to wait until I was 23 to play in the league.

“Everything happens for a reason. People have got different experiences and stuff like that in their careers.

“I can’t wait to have it ticked off, get on a roll and hopefully have a good season.”

White’s path to the University of Bolton Stadium has not been without it’s fair share of ups and downs.

Released by Carlisle at 17 he then suffered a serious knee injury not long after being picked up by Gateshead.

It meant he had to convince The Heed to keep him on as he worked his way back to fitness, heading to Rovers after the club had gone through some serious financial problems during the 2018/19 campaign.

“I think I’ve had quite a unique journey to be fair,” said White, entering the final year of his contract at the Championship club. 

“I’ve had long-term injuries, I’ve been a clubs where maybe the future of the football club hasn’t been looking too great and I’ve had to go elsewhere.

“I’ve had my fair share of loans, have been released and stuff like that so I’ve not had a straightforward journey but it’s made me the player and person that I am.

“I wouldn’t change it for anything really.

“To have come where I’ve come from, and how low down I’ve been, out of contract with an injury, as severe and serious as an ACL, to get back to where I am, hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

“Once I do pull that Bolton strip on and get back playing, to do it in the Football League, hopefully the fans will be back and stuff, it’ll be a bit of a dream come true.

“I had a vision of where I wanted to be and there were dark days. It’ll be right up there for me.”