PAUL Warhurst is bucking the trend of knocking the foreign invasion.

The Wanderer says the modern game is richer for importing quality players from abroad and regards it as a testimony to the Premiership that the world's best want to play here.

In fairness, King Canute would have had an easier job keeping his feet dry than Gordon Taylor's PFA face in stemming the foreign tide to protect their own members' interests.

But Warhurst sees no harm.

"It might be tough on English players but there is nothing that can be done about it because, if the game and the Premiership are going to progress, we need to have the foreigners over here.

"The fact that they want to come shows how our game has grown in recent seasons. They have brought a lot to our game in terms of their skills and big time glamour and I think that is a good thing.

"Some people say that bringing them over here is tough on young English players. It is to some extent and you have to feel sorry for them. But on the other hand it is great for them that they can watch and learn from having great foreign players at their clubs.

"It can only help them from that point of view. If our quality kids are good enough then they'll come through okay.

"Every player has his dream and the chances are still there to make those dreams come true."

Warhurst, who rose from the junior ranks at Manchester City to become one of the most talented home grown players never to win an England cap, is excited at the prospect of seeing the new recruits to Wanderers' foreign legion make an impact.

Urging fans to be patient with Jay Jay Okocha, who has made only four brief Premiership appearances since his summer switch from Paris St Germain, he added: "The fans might have expected to have seen more of him by now but he has taken a while to get used to the fast pace of English football.

"He has all the ability and ingredients to be a special player for Bolton and once he has fully acclimatised to his new surroundings, he will prove to be a wonderful acquisition for the club. We just have to be patient with Jay-Jay for the time being."