ABDOULAYE Meite admits there were times in his younger years when a lack of confidence has held him back.

But the big defender won't be short of self-belief when he goes head to head with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Having been on the receiving end when Rooney scored a hat-trick as Manchester United romped to a 4-0 win at the Reebok in October, he knows he will be facing the Premiership's most prolific attack.

But, if he had not wanted to play against the best strikers in the world, he would never have come to Bolton.

"It's a big game and a big challenge," Meite said, relishing the chance to put his skills and his character to the test in front of a derby crowd of 76,000.

"I came to England to play in games like this."

Meite believes United will beat Chelsea to the Premiership title, but he refuses to be intimidated.

"Yes, it's looking good for them," he said, showing respect for the high-flying Reds, while insisting Wanderers have no specific plans for keeping Rooney quiet.

"They are a great side. But the key is to prepare yourself very well and not have any fears.

"I prefer to play against a big centre forward but if you are playing against someone like Rooney who is a very intelligent player, you have to adapt. It's down to me and the other defenders to react to what happens."

Although recent results have seen Wanderers' UEFA Cup ambitions come under threat, Meite believes they can still qualify for Europe, something he took for granted in his Marseille days.

"We were on good form in December all the effort we put in maybe cost us," he said, reflecting on recent setbacks.

"There were a lot of games and it could have affected us in January and the New Year.

"We realise now there aren't many games to go now so it's down to us to go on a run and try to make sure we get into UEFA Cup next season.

"Bolton are an ambitious club and we want to be considered a big club so it is essential to qualify."

Sam Allardyce tried for two and a half years to sign Meite before succeeding last summer after the Ivory Coast centre-back had helped Marseille knock Wanderers out of the UEFA Cup. But the Paris-born African insists he wasn't playing hard to get.

"Three years ago I first met Sam in Marseille and we had a chat. I just felt it was too soon to join Bolton," he said.

"I was too young, I wasn't ready to move to another country. It wasn't a footballing reason, I wasn't sure of myself or confident enough.

"When Sam came in for me again and I decided to come to England, I wasn't playing that well at Marseille.

"It was good that Sam showed confidence in me. Now I feel good in myself and I think I have done reasonably well. At Marseille I had a few problems with the coaching staff and management and I wasn't playing regularly.

"It meant when I did get here I was ready to play and highly motivated."