The striker’s goal return stepped up a level in the Scottish Premier League and helped Jim Goodwin’s side secure European football on the final day of the season.

To that point, the only full season Dalby had spent as the ‘main man’ had been at Southend United, a club which had dropped into the National League and were about to enter some very choppy financial waters.

Two full seasons with Wrexham brought two promotions but not nearly enough game time. Phil Parkinson had packed his attack with experience and as the youngster of the group, Dalby knew he had to find a club which could offer him regular football.

The solution would be a move to Tannadice, a club who like Bolton were looking for someone with Dalby’s strengths to spearhead their attack.

The move proved an overwhelming success, and United writer for The Courier, Alan Temple, felt his arrival came at exactly the right time.

Sam Dalby celebrates scoring a goal for Dundee United against Rangers at Ibrox (Image: PA) Celtic's Reo Hatate (left) and Sam Dalby battle for the ball at Celtic Park in February (Image: PA)

“He provided the ideal focal point,” he told The Bolton News. “While it would be an exaggeration to say the team was built around him, he was certainly one of the most important ingredients.

“United didn’t tend to dominate possession. They were resolute at the back and direct in attack. Sam’s physicality and work ethic was crucial to that. He was regularly competing in 20 aerial duels per game – and winning his fair share.

“The task was sometimes thankless but when opportunities came, he converted a good percentage of those. His instincts in the penalty box are terrific and he can finish on the deck or with his head.

“It is also hard to overestimate the importance of confidence and momentum. When the goals started flowing and his name started to ring around Tannadice every week, he really started to motor.

“You can talk about tactics and attributes, but simply feeling at home – and trusted to play every week – can also be a huge factor in performances.”

If Dalby’s confidence was sky-high when he left Scotland, that was not necessarily the case when he first went to Dundee United on loan. At Wrexham, Parkinson had happened upon a system that worked, and whether that was Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer or later Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher or Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith, his attacking pairs were firmly rooted.

In two full seasons, his total game time added up to just 33 whole games. The bit-part cameos from the bench were not what he needed to progress.

“The regular football – and the pressure to be the ‘main man’ – has definitely been the making of him,” Temple agreed, having watched him blossom in the SPL.

“Due to his size profile, I think the temptation was maybe for Wrexham to throw him on as a late substitute; lots of high balls in his direction. It’s tough for any young player to really make his mark in fits and starts like that.

“Whereas at United, he had the absolute faith of Jim Goodwin, who has followed him since the Southend days, and you could visibly see him grow as a player. Of course, goals help, and the momentum he picked up around the festive period was impressive.”

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was released in the summer of 2024, and his physicality was not replaced (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth) Cameron Jerome played a bit-part at Wanderers in his two-year stay but did provide a focus for the attack (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)

Wanderers lacked physicality in their attack last season, unable to adequately replace the released Jon Dadi Bodvarsson or Cameron Jerome, and with Victor Adeboyejo falling foul to a knee injury in February. Coupled with the sale of Dion Charles to Huddersfield Town, Steven Schumacher was left with two senior forwards, Aaron Collins and John McAtee. Both players returned a healthy number of goals but, by their own admission, did not especially suit the roles they were being asked to play.

The signing of Dalby is a hint at Schumacher’s vision for next season. He wants to bring in effective wide players to provide service and ensure the end product is more reliable, with the likes of Collins, McAtee and Joel Randall able to drop off into deeper or wider positions which fit their natural game.

Seven of Dalby’s 15 goals for Dundee United were headers – which equalled the total mustered by the whole Bolton squad over 46 league games last season.

“It was a strength of Dundee United’s,” Temple said. “They utilise long throws brilliantly, with Will Ferry’s cannon of an arm and the size of guys like Declan Gallagher and Kevin Holt (although now departed). They also do a hell of a lot of work in training on corners and wide free kicks.

“Sam was a beneficiary of that – but also made plenty happen himself. Even if he isn’t making a clean connection or planting a header into the net, he’s a big, immovable nuisance. A proper number nine.

“His headed winner against Hearts at Tynecastle is one for all Bolton fans to look up; a genuinely extraordinary header, which he has no right to score.”

Dalby has experienced higher levels of football before – signed by Leeds United as a teenager and then taken into the Premier League for a brief spell with Watford. His season in the hustle and bustle of the SPL also had him competing in front of circa 50,000 at Rangers and Celtic.

The pressure at Bolton and the expectation which will be piled on to Schumacher’s side to compete at the top end of the division this term is something he will have to contend with if he is to continue the progress he made at United.

Sam Dalby beats Rangers keeper Jack Butland with a goal at Tannadice in January (Image: PA)

“Sam is a cool customer – very level-headed and circumspect off the pitch,” Temple said.

“And he takes that onto the field. He rarely looks flustered and, even when he misses a couple of chances, if always willing to get himself in the right position next time.

“In United’s biggest wins – the derby against Dundee at Dens Park, Aberdeen at home, Hearts away – he is the man who stepped up. He also scored twice against Rangers. He seems unflustered by big occasions.

“Perhaps the best way to exemplify that is from the penalty spot.

“He scored against Hibs in 90th minute to secure a draw at Easter Road and against Aberdeen on the final day of the season to send United into Europe – proper nerve-shredding stuff on both occasions. And he was the calmest man around.”