Nicolas Anelka believes Bolton are showing the style to go with their steel as they bid for European football. The France striker is reaping the benefits and aims to improve his nine-goal tally against Fulham in the Barclays Premiership on Sunday. He said: "We have succeeded in combining a long game with a short game. "Before it was just a long game. We are playing better on the ball." Anelka, who turned out for his country in midweek, is anxious to continue his good form after scoring the only goal in the victory at Watford last weekend.
"We play 4-5-1 at Bolton and I am the lone striker, even if it isn't a role I prefer," he told L'Equipe. "Scoring my first goal in the Premiership triggered me off. "Now the goals are coming because the confidence is there. "Confidence is the key to any goalscorer. When you score, you try more things."
Bolton trained on their new pitch for the first time on Friday and manager Sam Allardyce said: "It has been laid very professionally. "It looks a lot better than before. That will give the players confidence to go out and do more with the ball. "It should create a better game and hopefully help bring us a much-needed victory."
Meanwhile, Bolton have secured the services of two foreign players for the start of next season. FC Zurich's Switzerland midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, 20, and Bordeaux centre-half Gerald Cid, 23, have both drawn up pre-contract agreements with the club and will join them in the summer.