Bolton star Nolan a hero on Merseyside — until weekend

KEVIN NOLAN is Merseyside’s new hero, but he doesn’t believe the adulation will last until the weekend.

The Liverpool-born midfielder eclipsed last season’s goalscoring exploits at Old Trafford by grabbing the winner at Manchester United on Wednesday night to give Bolton their first back-to-back away triumphs over their illustrious neighbours for 67 years. Nolan scored the visitors’ first last year as the Trotters came from behind to snatch an unexpected 2-1 win. But on Wednesday night he grabbed all the glory, seizing on David Beckham’s mistake and rattling his shot past Fabien Barthez 12 minutes from time.

Other than success for Liverpool or Everton, nothing brings a wider smile to Scouse faces than seeing United turned over and the 19-year-old’s telephone bore testament to his new-found popularity.