Eidur Gudjohnsen has it all to prove, says Neil LennonEidur Gudjohnsen will pull on a Wanderers shirt again – but he still has work to do to convince Neil Lennon he is ready for regular football.
Reports on the Icelander from the training ground have been glowing over the past fortnight, yet the 36-year-old will still need to impress in a game situation before the club make a decision on bringing him back for a second spell.
It is nearly 14 years since Gudjohnsen left Bolton, after which he won three league titles and a Champions League winner’s medal in a glorious career gracing some of the major stadia in Europe, playing for the likes of Barcelona, Monaco and Chelsea.
But Lennon revealed the backdrop for Gudjohnsen’s comeback game would most likely not be a glamorous one – perhaps even an empty pitch at Euxton, or the upcoming development squad game against Middlesbrough, which has already been switched to the Macron.
“We’re hoping to get him involved now in a couple of bounce games, or even a reserve game over the next week or 10 days,” the manager said.
“It isn’t for me to judge how Eidur is feeling but he looks good, has trained well and he’s in good condition. He’s got the bit between his teeth and he’s motivated to get back into the English game.”
Gudjohnsen is treading familiar territory as he looks to earn a deal with Wanderers, with his current situation mirroring the one he experienced in his first spell with the club.
Back in 1998, the talented teenage striker was looking to re-launch his career, which had stalled after serious injury.
Gudjohnsen arrived unfit for a pre-season tour of Ireland, having broken his ankle the previous season whilst partnering Brazil legend Ronaldo in the PSV Eindhoven attack en route to the Dutch title.
Despite his lack of conditioning, Colin Todd saw enough in an otherwise forgettable 3-2 defeat at Waterford to offer him a deal. The record books now show that decision to be one of the most financially lucrative in the club’s history as just two years and 27 goals later he moved on for £4million to Stamford Bridge.
This time around, the only gamble appears to be on whether Gudjohnsen’s considerably more experienced body can handle the rigours of Championship football.
Hardly a regular for Club Brugge, Cercle Brugge or AEK Athens – his previous three clubs – the deal carries with it an element of gamble. But then if any club has proved down the years such speculation on experienced players looking for one final season in the sun is worth it, it’s Bolton Wanderers.
Gudjohnsen is desperate to get back into the international fold with Iceland standing every chance of qualifying for the European Championships.
And the vast majority of Wanderers fans are desperate to see their one-time hero given a final hurrah – something he was denied after injury prevented him playing in the ill-fated, Barry Knight-tarnished play-off semi-final second leg against Ipswich Town all those years ago.
Lennon is reluctant to stoke up the excitement too far for now but says he must make a decision based on what Gudjohnsen can offer the club now, rather than be swayed by his impressive pedigree in the past.
“When we got the call last week me and Phil (Gartside) thought it was a no brainer to give him that chance,” he said. “And we’ll see how it progresses.
“You can see he is a class player in training but whether we do anything will be guided by his general level of fitness, I suppose.
“We’ve seen him train and he looks good but I’d be interested to see him on a bigger stage.
“From what I have seen so far I don’t think I have any concerns on that aspect.”
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