BO Hansen returned to Denmark this week a better player than he was when he arrived at the Reebok three and a half years ago.

That's Sam Allardyce's opinion of 'Bomber' - the former Brondby favourite who came to Bolton as a striker and left as an accomplished all-rounder.

"Bo was good for us and we were good for Bo," the Wanderers' boss said after setting up the deal that took Hansen to FC Mitdjylland on a free transfer.

"When I first got here, he'd been bought for £1.2 million and had hardly kicked a ball for Bolton Wanderers. But the season we won promotion he played 39 games!

"He'd knuckled down, worked hard and got to know what English football was about."

Hansen was Brondby's top scorer, an out-and-out striker, when he joined Wanderers in January 1999 but he made his biggest contribution to the Reebok cause as a wide attacker in the formation Allardyce perfected in the 2000-2001 season.

"He goes back a more versatile player than he was when he arrived," the manager added. "He'd always been hell bent on scoring and, although we know goals are crucial, some players have to be prepared to develop other parts of their game - and that was what Bo did.

"He became an outstanding player for us in our promotion year and, although he did his bit in the Premiership, it was a step higher for him. We've moved on a stage and he found first team games fairly limited. But he still wants to play - and he'll do that and do well back in Denmark.

"I wish him well and I'm sure he'll do a great job for them."