JAY-JAY Okocha is ready to commit his future to Bolton Wanderers after scoring a major victory in his long-running club v country battle.

The fans' favourite will underline his commitment by captaining Wanderers in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final showdown with Aston Villa at the Reebok on Wednesday night before jetting out the following day to lead Nigeria's bid to win the African Nations Cup in Tunisia.

And he revealed today that he has had preliminary talks over a new contract to replace his existing agreement that expires at the end of the season.

"I don't know if I am allowed to say anything," he said, "but they have shown an interest and I've shown interest as well.

"I think it's looking good for Bolton and for myself, maybe."

Okocha has answered repeated calls from the Nigerian FA to report for pre-tournament training in Portugal, by insisting that, despite being captain of his country, he has a duty to Wanderers and effectively confirmed his availability for the Villa game at the weekend. But the financial "problems" reported in a Nigerian newspaper have played no part in his decision.

Playing down reports that he had lost his footballing fortune in a bank crisis, he said: "I don't think I have much to worry about. I know I will get my money.

"I've been speaking with important people in Nigeria and they have given me guarantees that everything will be sorted out.

"I have to be honest about it, I've got some money in a bank in Nigeria, but the problem has been there for the last seven months. It's just come out now in the press and they are trying to exaggerate it a bit. It's not that I am in any financial danger.

"I'm trying to sort it out and I tried to put a bit of pressure on them by granting an interview to a Nigerian journalist and was surprised the way everything was going. People were exaggerating the news, but I am okay. I don't have any financial problem."

Okocha, along with all European-based members of the 22-man Nigeria squad, was expected to report to the Super Eagles' training camp in Portugal last Monday. But he ignored the call, as did Portsmouth striker Yakubu Agyembiyi, Arsenal striker Kanu and Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro. The others have now teamed up with their international team-mates in readiness for their first match in the tournament next Tuesday, but Okocha is still at the Reebok, preparing for the Villa game.

"I have to think about my own career as well as thinking about the national team," he explained: "It's been a difficult period for me, I must confess. I've been fighting with the Nigerian FA, but things are looking a bit better. They are not putting so much pressure on me now.

"I've stayed here up to this time and I don't see what three days will change in the preparations they have had so far.

"My situation is a bit different, I've been in the national team almost 11 years and I expect them to give me something in return. I asked them to bear with me and understand that, because we do not have a big squad here, it is important for me to stay as long as I can before joining them. I get paid here and I think I owe something in return. I am trying to show that I appreciate what they are doing for me here. Unfortunately I have not been playing very well but I think the lads have been enjoying my presence."

Okocha will miss a maximum of four games during the tournmament which runs until February 14 -- the away leg of the semi-final plus league games against Charlton, Liverpool and Leicester -- but he is determined to leave Wanderers in a strong position in the Carling Cup as well as handily placed in the Premiership.

"It's a big moment for me and for the club," he added. "Maybe one of the most important games of the season. That's why I've been fighting very hard to stay.

"I had the opportunity to go to Portugal and then come back here, but that would have been too much for me. I knew that, once I was in there, it would have been very difficult to get out. The best bet was for me to stay here and fight from here.

"I don't blame them; the manager wants to do well in Tunisia but I have to think about myself and the people who are paying my wages."