Nolan in talks for new Trotters deal

Kevin Nolan has moved to allay fears he might leave Bolton because he cannot break into the England squad.

The club captain revealed after yesterday’s 2-1 victory against Fulham he was in talks about extending his current deal.

Manager Sam Allardyce had expressed his concern before the game that Nolan might feel the need to move on if did not receive the call to national service.

Nolan, who scored his third goal in five matches yesterday, insisted he was happy to remain at the Reebok Stadium.

The 24-year-old midfielder’s contract does not expire until 2009 but he is ready to increase it by a further two years.

“I am really enjoying myself at the club,” Nolan told the club’s website, www.bwfc.co.uk.

“Hopefully I will sign a new contract in the next couple of weeks.”

Nolan found the target against Fulham from close range after a header from Stelios Giannakopoulos had come back off the post.

It gave Bolton a two-goal cushion with Gary Speed making the breakthrough from the penalty spot after a barge from Michael Brown on Nicolas Anelka.

However, Zat Knight stretched Bolton’s nerves – and the crowd’s – to breaking point by pulling a goal back for Fulham with a clever header.

Then they almost grabbed the equaliser in stoppage time with a firm close-range header from substitute Tomasz Radzinski.

However, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen stood tall and somehow managed to push his effort over the top.

Allardyce was relieved to get a victory that keeps them on course for Europe and helps confidence in the camp ahead of the FA Cup replay against Arsenal on Wednesday.

He said: “We are hanging in there. We have got to see the next 11 games out and beat 58 points. That was good enough to take us to the UEFA Cup last time and if we overtake that points total who knows where that might takes us.

“Other teams will have to slip up but we have got to be in a position to take advantage. We have put pressure on the top teams by taking the three points and are in an exceptionally good position in the table.”

Fulham manager Chris Coleman felt his team had made it difficult for themselves.

He said: “The way we conceded the goals was hard to take. We reacted too slowly. We got ourselves back in it with a great header and gave ourselves half a chance. But it was a tremendous save from Jussi to deny us a point.”