Elmander vows to shine

Bolton striker Johan Elmander says he is starting to get back to his best and is determined to prove his worth at the Reebok Stadium.

The Sweden international has struggled to adapt to life at Bolton since Gary Megson paid in the region of £8million to Toulouse 18 months ago but after a tough time with injuries he now feels he is starting to get back to his best.

Elmander bagged his first goal in months against Aston Villa last time out and is hoping that will now be the first of many as he tries to live up to his price tag.

"The last month has felt fantastic. It feels like that Toulouse form is finally here again," he told Aftonbladet. "I can't remember when I was benched in my club team the last time, it was a really tough experience to go through.

"I hate sitting on the bench. Mentally I really was at rock bottom. The turning point came when I had a decent international against Hungary and felt that I still have it in me that I can run and it doesn't hurt and the touch is still there."

Elmander admits that he even started to doubt his own ability following a successful spell in France.

"It went really well in Toulouse and then nothing works at all. You just don't get it," he revealed. "You hope it is in there somewhere but the longer you go there thinking you start wondering if it is ever going to come back."