KEVIN Nolan makes no secret of his growing frustration at being unable to hold down a place in Wanderers' survival squad.

But the young midfielder has struggled to match the achievements of last season when he was acknowledged as one of the Premiership's best newcomers.

But he is still being tipped to develop into a key player at the Reebok.

Sam Allardyce, who fast-tracked the former Liverpool Schoolboy ace into his senior squad, is confident his protege will become "a major influence for many years to come."

But the Wanderers boss has warned young Nolan that he must be patient and play his way through the frustration that plagues him when he is out of the first 11.

"It's been a very frustrating season for Kevin," the manager acknowledged.

"He was a major influence with his goals in the Premiership last season - I think nine in all - but he's found his appearances have been a little more spasmodic this seaaon and he's not been able to cope with it because he's a young, frustrated man.

"He had a dip in form and failed to recover when he got back in the team again. But he has to be patient.

"He has to get back to being as good as he was on a consistent basis."

Nolan won his first England U21 cap in the friendly in Italy last week - a proud occasion for the youngster and his enthusiastic family. But there was an irony in the timing, which was not lost on the player who was repeatedly overlooked by David Platt last season when he was making a big impression at Premiership level and finally got his chance when he was struggling to hit his best club form.

"I didn't expect the call because I haven't been playing for Bolton every week this season," Nolan admitted in typically honest fashion. "It was a great boost to be picked, although I know a lot of the regular U21 players made the step up to the senior squad for the Australia game."

Allardyce believes the belated Young England call could be the perfect spur for the talented and powerful graduate from the Reebok Academy.

"The England U21 appearance will have helped because he's been frustrated with us," the manager explained. "Being involved at international level - whatever the level - is a great honour."

By his own admission, Nolan is desperate to earn an extended run in the side after making only 16 starts in his 26 appearances this season.

But Allardyce says has made a key contribution - not the least being his matchwinning goal in Wanderers' Old Trafford triumph in September

"He has still played a major part this year - even if it wasn't as much as he or I would have liked," the manager says.

"The extra competition for places hasn't helped him but that hasn't done him any harm because he tries to learn from players like Jay-Jay and the others and he already has the capabilities.

"But he's just a young man who's had a dip in form. He'll come back better and stronger and be a major, major influence in the side for many years to come."