JAY-JAY Okocha has warned his Premiership rivals that Wanderers are hell-bent on proving they are not one-season wonders.
The Reebok skipper celebrated his 31st birthday in style on Saturday, scoring twice in the 4-1 demolition of Charlton Athletic then spelled out his team's determination to live up to the standards they set last year, when they finished eighth -- their highest league placing for 44 years.
"Between us, we know that we've got a good squad," Okocha said. "Last season we proved that. But, for a lot of people it seemed like a fluke.
"This season we've got everything to prove, that we have established ourselves as a Premiership side.
"This is what we are looking forward to."
Okocha took just 10 minutes of the new campaign to open his account, having gone through the whole of last season without a Premiership goal. The stunning free-kick -- "as good as you'll see all season" according to Sam Allardyce -- was the opening shot in a virtuoso performance that inspired his team-mates, overwhelmed Charlton and set up the most emphatic of first-day victories.
But he still thinks the squad needs further strengthening before Wanderers can mount a serious challenge at the highest level and has repeated his call for Allardyce to be given the funds to recruit more quality players.
"If we want to contest with the other teams we need to spend a bit," he said. "It's unfortunate that the gaffer has the reputation of achieving success with nothing. It might work for a while but, eventually, you need to change that reputation. You need to invest as well.
"Other teams are investing and getting better ... we can't keep expecting miracles.
"To be honest I wish that we could bring in more players to help ease our job. We need a big squad, not just 12 or 13 good players; we need 20 good players."
With Wanderers having set up a deal to take Liverpool's Senegal international striker El-Hadji Diouf on a season-long loan and Allardyce optimistic that he can add two more players to his squad before the August 31 deadline, it looks like Okocha will get his wish -- at least in numerical terms.
Although he has no fears that Wanderers have too many old players on their books, he would like to see a shift towards a more youthful recruitment policy.
"What matters is how you perform and what you can do for the team rather than your age," he added. "If you look at our financial situation you can't blame him (Allardyce) for not going for the top players. Because he can't afford those players.
"It would be good if we could afford younger players but, in our situation, that is not possible so we have to work with what we've got."
Okocha was delighted to get off the mark with a first day double but he refused to blame the various distractions -- the constant speculation over his contract, a financial problem in his native Nigeria and the demands of the African Nations Cup -- for drawing a Premiership blank last season.
"I wouldn't say I didn't score because of those problems," he said. "I didn't let them bother me.
"I try as much as I can to stay focused on my job. I knew that my problems would be sorted. That was my belief and I didn't let it bother me.
"Not scoring last season was not a problem for me. Being captain of the team, if the team does well, I do well.
"It's not all about me, it's about the team and what I can give to the team.
"Of course, you like to see your name on the scoresheet but, for me, what matters most are the points.
"If I can score goals that's a bonus and I couldn't think of a better birthday present.
"The lads gave me a special birthday present -- three points -- and I think I gave myself one as well."
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