The 19-year-old's one-month stint at SportsDirect.com Park ended after the home game with Walsall on Saturday following Wanderers' decision to let new manager Neil Lennon run the rule over the teenager.

The Whites are hardly flush in the attacking department but should they decide to send him out on loan again, Latics would be at the head of the queue.

"We were grateful to Bolton for giving us him in the first place," Johnson said of Wilkinson, who scored his only goal in Saturday's win over the Saddlers.

"He's come in and done great. He's a good lad and I've enjoyed working with him.

"I was looking at the situation and thinking I know they're going to call him back because I would do that. If Bolton's new manager comes in he's going to want to assess everybody.

"It's great for him if he goes back and plays games. If not, we'll be the first ones knocking at the door asking 'can we have him back?'

"He's come in and played a part in every game and started the last few. He's a good player, I like him and I think he's got a bright future in football."

Johnson signed forward Jabo Ibehre on loan last week, yet that move had been in the pipeline before Wilkinson's spell and Oldham would love to have both on their books.

"He's had a bit of an injury but we've been talking about him for a couple of weeks, if not more," Johnson added of Ibehre. "I wanted them both."