Sammy Backs Anelka To Deliver

By Mark Heys
September 22 2006

Nicolas Anelka may have had a lot of critics off the pitch in recent years but one man who has worked with him on two seperate occasions says that the bad press is often far from the real truth.

Current Bolton assistant manager Sammy Lee worked with Anelka when they where together at Liverpool four years ago and he says that the Wanderers newest recruit is often misunderstood.

"There has been a big misconception around Nicolas in the past but his work ethic is great and he's the last one to leave the training pitch," Lee told the latest edition of Wanderers TV.

Anelka got his first goal for the Trotters during the midweek Carling Cup win over Walsall and Lee says that there is more to come from the Frenchman providing that he is given the right service.

"He's a quality act and as long as we give him the right service then we will be looking at great things from him. But don't think that it's going to happen overnight - Sam has said that we have to be patient, but he's going to be a formidable asset for us."

Bolton paid out a club record £8 million to secure the services of Anelka from Turkish club Fenerbahce last month and he is keen to impress on his return to English football.