GRETAR Steinsson admits Britannia rules the ways in Wanderers’ dressing room.

The Icelandic defender, who has also played in Holland and Switzerland, is used to hearing a variety of languages at his previous clubs.

But since arriving at the Reebok in January 2008, the defender’s opportunities to improve his linguistic skills have been limited.

Of Wanderers’ 18-man squad that lost at Manchester United on Saturday, English is the mother tongue for 12 of them — one of the highest numbers in the Premier League.

And, the overwhelming home-grown presence at Bolton, which includes 10 Englishmen, has made for a less cosmopolitan feel than the multi-lingual Steinsson has been accustomed to in the past.

“I played in Switzerland and the dressing room was like an international airport with all the different languages being spoken,” said the 27-year-old. “Conversations would switch from French to German to Italian and I found it fantastic to play there.

“I have always wanted to learn as many languages as possible as I have always found it fascinating to be in a dressing room where all the players are speaking in different languages.

“You don’t really experience all the different languages and nationalities in the Bolton team because we all speak English.

“A few of the players, myself included, speak Dutch and German and so I will occasionally have a conversation in Dutch, and now Ivan Klasnic has joined I can speak with him in German as well.”

Whatever the language of Gary Megson’s men, Steinsson feels it is more important that the supporters are united in one voice behind the players.

“It’s very important to get the fans going and to get them behind the team on a matchday as they always provide that extra boost the players need,” said the former AZ Alkmaar and Young Boys full-back, who has been chosen as Wanderers’ ambassador for Kick It Out’s One Game One Community programme.

“When the team are doing well, the fans get even more fanatical.

“For me personally, I find it really important to get the fans behind the team as they provide that extra strength and extra power, and when you are tiring they give you that extra feeling and momentum to go all the way.”