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

The Rovers midfielder has joined Bolton on a season-long loan deal having 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, who will be his Wanderers boss, as Barrow won the title last season.

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

“It’s a milestone,” he said.

“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 playing in the Football League has had its 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 with Rovers. 

“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, to get back to where I am, hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

“I had a vision of where I wanted to be and there were some dark days.”