Super Jay-Jay Okocha, who didn't score ONE Premiership goal last season, was a 16-1 shot for the first goal as Wanderers romped home against Charlton in their opener at the Reebok on Saturday.

So what happened? He scored two, including the money-winning first for Okocha punters, as Wanderers fired themselves up to the top of the table on the first day for the second time in three seasons, after thrashing Leicester 5-0 away in 2001.

Okocha was the star of the show as Wanderers outclassed an out-of-sorts Charlton side who finished seventh last season, one place above their opponents.

Two-goal Henrik Pedersen blasted in a fourth after Kevin Lisbie had headed in a consolation for the woeful Addicks and it was impressive Wanderers who looked like the team chasing a European place.

Jardel exit is Diouf boost

SAM Allardyce finally saw the back of Mario Jardel on Friday night and immediately set his sights on securing a deal for Liverpool's misfit striker El-Hadji Diouf.

Jardel's 12-month Reebok nightmare came to an end late on Friday afternoon when he completed a free transfer to the Argentine club Newell's Old Boys - more than a week after the Bolton Evening News reported his intention to return to South America and just two days short of the first anniversary of his arrival in Bolton.

For Jardel, the 30-year-old two-time winner of the Golden Boot as Europe's top scorer, the Argentine offer was an opportunity he simply could not refuse.

Despite still having a year of his Reebok contract to run, he was clearly not in Allardyce's plans. That was evident as far back as January when he was loaned out to Ancona in Italy.

When that move turned sour, the Brazilian international striker Wanderers signed for a reported £1.5 million from Sporting Lisbon, found himself in limbo, having failed to start a single Premiership game and scoring just three Carling Cup goals in 12 senior appearances.

During the summer he spoke of returning to the Reebok but went missing after failing to report for pre-season training, prompting his Bolton bosses to consider sanctions against him for breach of contract.

For Allardyce, the deal means he is rid of a player he did not want, saving an estimated £1 million a year on his wage bill and having scope to pursue a season-long loan deal for Diouf - the 23-year-old African Gerard Houllier signed from the French club, Lens, for £10million two years ago.

The Diouf deal appeared to have stalled with Wanderers getting little encouragement from Anfield. But they are now expected to make a concerted effort to fend off competition from Spanish club, Malaga, for Diouf's signature before the transfer window closes on August 31.

Wanderers are understood to be struggling to make progress in their attempt to do a deal with the Israeli club Ashdod for Nigerian midfielder, Blessing Kaku - primarily because of the number of agents claiming to represent the 26-year-old.