BERNARD Mendy - dropped, discarded and in deep water with the people of Bolton for his reported criticism of the town and the football club - is back in Wanderers' good books.

The French Under 21 international has come in from the cold to occupy a key role in Sam Allardyce's new formation, impressing fans and team-mates alike - not to mention the manager.

It is a far cry from the opening day of the season when Mendy, signed on a long-term loan from Paris St Germain, was substituted at half time, shell-shocked after being given a torrid time by the formidable Fulham attack.

His former PSG team-mate Jay Jay Okocha suffered a similar fate after struggling to adjust to the pace of the Premiership but they are both back in harness with Allardyce determined to make the most of their respective talents.

Okocha was always expected to shine but Mendy's response to his Fulham frustration has particularly impressed.

"We probably asked too much of Bernard from the start, putting him in when he wasn't ready for the Premiership." Allardyce admitted, confirming his sslection for Sunday's game at Leeds.

"So, frustrated, he sat and watched and learned what he has to do and waited patiently for the opportunity to do it.

"Apart from his international coach at Under 21 level, who caused him a problem when he misquoted him, he's done well and finally come along and said 'Give me an opportunity and I'll show you what I can do!'"

Refreshingly positive and exceedingly skilful on the ball, the only question-mark over Mendy's all-round game is his defending. But, after advice from the manager and assistant boss Phil Brown, he now looks tailor-made for the right wing-back role in the three centre-back formation Wanderers have switched to in recent games.

"Because of results, I've changed the side and the personnel and Bernard has come in and done well - West Brom being his best game for us," Allardyce adds.

"If he continues in that manner, we've got a talented player - albeit with a lack of experience to a certain degree - who has an awful lot of qualities and who could be a major asset.

"He's tempered his rashness, which is a good sign and improved his defensive understanding. His quality going forward is excellent and getting better by the game.

"He is very important to us, particularly in the wing-back role he is playing at the moment.

"Being a full-back, Phil has worked with him on the pitch and I've worked with him in the video room and the stats room and, to his credit, he's listened and taken that on board.

"The only thing we have to watch, with him being so young, is to keep his feet on the ground in case he starts getting carried away."

Allardyce says there is no significance in Mendy having returned and hit form at the same time as his pal Okocha. Nevertheless, he is delighted to have them both back in harness.

"It's a coincidence that they've got in together because they have both got in on their individual merits," the manager explains. "But what they have done with Bruno N'Gotty is to give us a pretty dominant force down that right hand side, whereas before we were more dominant on the left.

"And if we can maintain that we can become a more potent force from an attacking point of view. Then we just have to make sure that, when we haven't got the ball, we stop the opposition playing."