IF Fernando Hierro does nothing else during his Reebok stay, he can return to Spain satisfied that he has achieved his main objective.

The legendary former Real Madrid captain set himself just one task when he joined Wanderers last month -- to live up to his reputation as the perfect professional, and, according to Sam Allardyce, he has already accomplished his misson.

Big Sam can be a hard man to please at times and he does not dish out praise wantonly but he cannot speak too highly of the Spanish veteran.

"He is a model professional," the manager said. "In fact he has so much humility for a man who achieved so much that I can't believe it.

"He's almost too good to be true -- as a man as well as a footballer. It's a real privilege to have him here. He's an unbelievable guy and it's no wonder he's lasted this long."

Allardyce's admiration for Hierro has not, up now, extended to giving him a place in his starting line-up. But that is down to the fact that Radhi Jaidi appears to be striking up an effective partnership with Bruno N'Gotty and that Ivan Campo is playing as well as ever in the holding midfield position, where he could also play.

It is an uncomfortable position Hierro finds himself in, having been such a pivotal figure at Real for 14 years -- a point not lost on the manager.

"He has a frustration on his face when he looks at me," Allardyce said, "but somewhere along the line it will happen for him.

"He wants it to be sooner but, for me, I'd rather it be later because the rest are keeping us in the winning vein and I just haven't had the opportunity to put him in yet."

Speaking to Hierro, albeit through an interpreter, is an object lesson in humility. For all his three European Cup triumphs and 89 international appearances, he is reluctant to dwell on the past, preferring to look to what he can do for Wanderers in the future.

"I had 14 years at Madrid, the biggest club in the world, but that is over now. I then had one year in Qatar and that's over ... I came to Bolton with a real desire to do well on the field and to help the club on and off the field. That's all I want to concentrate on now.

"The other two chapters are over, it's time to concentrate on the present."

Hierro turned down offers from Spain, Mexico and the USA before joining Wanderers and could have had another year in Qatar. But for eight years he has had a burning ambition to play in the Premiership and, when Allardyce came calling for a second time, it was an offer he could not refuse.

"I like everything about the game here and fell in love with it during Euro 96," he said.

"I played for Spain at Wembley and throughout the competition I noticed how people are in the stadiums and how players seem to be treated.

"I came back with Real Madrid to play against Manchester United and Leeds in the Champions League and that reinforced my desire to come here one day.

"England not only has great atmospheres at the grounds, it is also one of the last enclaves in football where not everything is about the commercial and marketing aspects of the sport.

"You win trophies on the field. Obviously, you have to move with the times but clubs have to literally keep their eye on the ball."