Diouf hails Allardyce influence

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf has thanked manager Sam Allardyce for turning his career on its head.

When Allardyce signed Diouf on loan from Liverpool last season, it was seen as a major gamble as the Senegal international arrived at the Reebok Stadium with an undesirable reputation.

Diouf initially did little to shed such an image, particularly when he spat in the face of then Portsmouth captain Arjan de Zeeuw during a 1-0 home defeat.

But gradually Diouf has cleaned up his act and is now a reformed player, to such an extent Allardyce signed the 24-year-old on a permanent basis over the summer.

Diouf scored nine goals in 32 matches last season, and has started this term with two in six games, notably grabbing Bolton’s first goal in Europe last night.

“The reason why I’m playing so well is because I’m very happy at Bolton,” said the former Lens player.

“Sam has given me a lot of confidence, as has the rest of the team and the supporters, and it means that every time I go out on the pitch, I give my best.

“The club also stood by me through a very difficult time in my career and that helped.”

After conceding a shock 28th-minute opener to Boban Janchevski in yesterday’s first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round clash against Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bolton had to wait until 18 minutes from time for Diouf to haul them level with his historic goal, a diving header.

Mexico striker Jared Borgetti then scored an injury-time winner to give Bolton the edge going into the return, and a tonic ahead of Sunday’s Premiership derby at Manchester City.

Diouf said: “That was a great moment for me, for the team and the fans, and a very important win for us.

“We know playing away will be difficult, so it was important we won the game.

“But I’m not happy with myself and the team because we didn’t play well in the first half, and we will need to improve in the second leg if we are to finish them off.

“In the first half we were waiting all the time for something to happen, but then in the second half we decided to go out and play football and go forward.

“This is the UEFA Cup, and in this competition you don’t think about anything but pushing forward and scoring a lot of goals.”

Diouf is refusing to set himself any targets, other than to be a regular on the scoresheet before leaving to join up with Senegal in early 2006 for the African Nations Cup.

He concedes it will be a wrench to leave Bolton, adding: “I want to score a lot of goals this season because in January and February I go to the African Nations Cup.

“I want to give my best before then, but I won’t be happy leaving Bolton at that time and for so long because the club is now in my heart.

“The national team and the African Nations Cup is still very important. This is the life.”

After finishing an all-time high of sixth in the Premiership last season, the acid test for Bolton this term will be how their league form fairs following their European nights, with City to provide the first searching examination at Eastlands.

Diouf knows Bolton do not have the strength of the top clubs, but he is confident they can cope with the new demands.

“It will be hard playing every Sunday and Thursday, but with this team we always give our best, and I feel we have a strong squad to cope,” he insisted.

“This team may not be Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, but in every game we give everything to play well and to get a result.”

Allardyce has no fresh injury worries, with midfielder Gary Speed his only doubt with a hamstring injury sustained in training earlier this week.