DANNY Shittu hopes his hard work will eventually pay off with a run in the Wanderers first team.

The big defender has watched from the sidelines since Gary Cahill’s return from suspension in September, prompting speculation that he could leave the club to find first-team football.

Wanderers turned down a loan bid from Derby County last month, and the 28-year-old has taken heart from the fact Gary Megson wanted to keep him at the Reebok.

“The club rate me and the manager wants me to stay, otherwise he would not have declined a loan move for me,” he said.

“I’m a fighter and I will continue to work hard to convince the manager that I deserve another look-in.

“It all started well for me at Bolton but I had some knocks in September and those who played in my absence have done well. And as they say in football, you don't change a winning team.

“The most important thing is to continue to work hard. For sure, your chance will come and when it does, you owe it to yourself and to your fans to grab it with both hands.”