Bolton's players need to be faster and fitter, says Neil Lennon

Bolton's players need to be faster and fitter when they return for a tilt at Sky Bet Championship promotion next season, according to boss Neil Lennon.

Wanderers were soundly beaten by Barclays Premier League-bound Bournemouth on Monday as the gulf between the high-flying Cherries and mid-table Bolton became apparent.

Lennon, who will start his first pre-season at the Macron Stadium in the summer, thinks his players need to improve their physical conditioning if they are to spend next term around the upper echelons of the division.

"I looked round the team at Bournemouth and some of them looked lightweight, they were heavy-legged; this shouldn't be the case," the ex-Celtic boss told The Bolton News.

"Physically we didn't look as strong as Bournemouth and that needs to change. That's what we'll endeavour to do.

"I'm not looking to fill the team up with heavyweights but we do need some pace and power in the team and that's been the case for a while."

Wanderers' season has faded away largely due to a lengthy injury list which reached double figures at one point.

"We need to get stronger, we need to get fitter, we need to be more robust," Lennon added.

"If you look at the two teams the other night, seven or eight of the Bournemouth players have played mid-30-plus games this season. They are the players you need in the Championship.

"I look at my statistics and some players have played five, 10, 15 games. That's not good enough. There are too many players on the treatment table. There are too many players who are perhaps a little bit short at this level.

"We know what we have to do. It will take a lot of hard work."