The 2022 World Cup gets under way in Qatar in just a few days from now as nations from around the globe converge for the first tournament to take place in the Middle East.
It begins on Sunday afternoon in Group A when hosts Qatar take on Ecuador for the tournament curtain raiser. The winter tournament will see the Premier League and Championship take a break in play.
League One continues however which means Bolton Wanderers ' campaign continues throughout the World Cup. The Whites are in league action this Saturday on the road to Fleetwood Town, before taking on Barrow in the last 32 of the Papa Johns Trophy next Tuesday.
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There are no current Wanderers players at this edition of the World Cup, but there are those who used to call the University of Bolton Stadium home who will be in Qatar for various nations. Here, we take a look at the former Bolton players who will be playing in the weeks to come.
Tim Ream (Fulham & USA)
Veteran defender Ream is now 35 but still playing regularly for Fulham, who won promotion back to the Premier League over the summer. He is still a regular selection for the United States squad too and has racked up 46 caps.
He is poised to be in contention for more caps this winter in Qatar. The Americans are in Group B, the same as England and Wales.
Ream played 126 games for Bolton between 2012 and 2015, joining from New York Red Bulls. He left Wanderers in the summer of 2015 as he was sold to the Cottagers, where he has been ever since.
Antonee Robinson (Fulham & USA)
Full-back Robinson joined Wanderers on from Everton for what proved to be the entire 2017/18 campaign in the Championship. He became a regular under Phil Parkinson, playing 34 times in all competitions.
He spent the next two seasons at Wigan Athletic, the first of which was on loan. Robinson was sold to Fulham in the summer of 2020 following the Latics being relegated to League One and falling into administration.
Robinson has been a US international since 2018 and has 29 caps to his name, plus two goals. He will be seeking to add to that this winter.
Aaron Mooy (Celtic & Australia)
The 32-year-old came through the youth team ranks at Wanderers but never made a first team appearance for the club. He was released in 2010 after a contract extension was declined under Owen Coyle.
Mooy has since played for Manchester City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and is currently with Scottish giants Celtic. He has been called up for the Socceroos, who are in Group D along with France, Denmark and Tunisia.
Mooy has seven goals in 53 games for Australia. The Socceroos face an uphill challenge to get out of a challenging group including both France and Denmark.
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal & England)
Like Mooy, Ramsdale is a former Wanderers youth teamer who did not make a first team appearance for Bolton's senior side. The North Staffordshire native spent part of his youth career the Whites after being brought to the club by Fred Barber, who spent more than 15 years as Bolton's goalkeeping coach.
He was released by Wanderers as a teenager due to his size, which has since sprouted to 6ft 3in. He was courted by Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United before signing for the latter on scholarship terms, with moves to Bournemouth and then Arsenal following.
Ramsdale, 24, is one of three goalkeepers picked by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions. Everton's Jordan Pickford will surely be number one, so Ramsdale faces a fight along with Newcastle United's Nick Pope for the jersey and any game time in Qatar.
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