Steven Schumacher believes the 26-year-old’s form has benefited after starting the last four games for the Whites, each of which have resulted in three points.
McAtee was given an extended run on Schumacher’s arrival as head coach last February but had started just once this season in the league before the 2-1 win against Leyton Orient on January 24.
And the Bolton boss reckons regular game time has brought more out of McAtee, including a fourth goal of the campaign against his former loan club Barnsley last weekend.
“Macca is a good player and he’s another one, like Sam Dalby, who is really benefitting from having that run of games,” he told The Bolton News.
“He is looking sharper on the ball, and he is making good decisions. And when you feel confident you do start making more of those right choices.
“He managed to get through 90 minutes (against Barnsley) and I think I have taken him off in pretty much every other game this season.
“I think he made good decisions pretty much all game with the exception of one that he should have played through for Rob Apter on the right-hand side which would have killed it off but he played the other way.
“But that’s nit-picking and it’s what I get paid to do.”
McAtee’s last 90-minute shift for Wanderers was on the opening day of the season at Stockport County and he has gone the distance in just 10 of his 79 appearances for the club since signing from Luton Town.
At the other end of the pitch, Schumacher has been pleased with Jack Bonham’s form since signing the goalkeeper from Stoke City last month.
The 32-year-old has not yet finished on the losing side since arriving at the Toughsheet and came up with two vital saves against Barnsley last weekend.
“Two big moments, one early on which if (Barnsley) score then their confidence goes sky high and things might get edgy, and then again late on, his concentration doesn’t switch off,” he said.
“He hasn’t had a lot of saves to make in his time here so far but we have been really pleased with him because he has done everything that we have asked him to go. It’s been a good start for him.”