KEVIN Nolan dedicated Wanderers' Premiership survival mission to Sam Allardyce, insisting: "We want to do it for the Gaffer; he deserves it more than anyone else."

On the eve of Saturday's Reebok relegation derby with Blackburn, the young midfielder paid a heartfelt tribute to the manager, who has transformed the club in less than two and a half years.

"No Bolton fan in the world could have dreamed of what he has done for us this season," the 19-year-old Scouser declared. "Even I didn't dream it would be this good."

Under Allardyce's guidance, Nolan has emerged from the ranks of the Reebok academy to become one of England's most promising young midfield talents.

In two years of first team football he has blossomed alongside experienced, established internationals including, of late, the French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff - a player Wanderers would not have been capable of attracting in the cash strapped days when he first succeeded Colin Todd .

"He's brought this club so far," the youngster acknowledged. "When he first joined the club I think we were about eight positions off the bottom. He got us into a play-off position that year and got us to two semi-finals; the year after got us to the play-off final and won it and look what he's done for us this season.

"He's brought so many good players in and all the players he's brought in are world class,

have been world class or are going to be world class. So hopefully we'll keep him in the Premiership which is where he deserves to be."

Nolan's tribute came as Wanderers stepped up their preparations for a derby showdown with Greame Souness' Worthington Cup winners, which could have a major bearing in the battle to beat the drop.

Wanderers currently hold a four-point lead over their Lancashire neighbours and are hoping a second successive Reebok win will give them a seven-point cushion.

Allardyce, who prides himself in being as thorough and professional in his preparation as any other club manager, has given his players the low-down on a side he sees as a formidable attacking force while being suspect at the back.

"He's been giving us a lot of info about Blackburn," Nolan confirmed, "how he wants us to play, how he wants us to close them down ... but it's the same every week, nothing different. He's been consistent all through the year.

"Hopefully we can give him something back."

One player Nolan will relish playing against tomorrow will be Mark Hughes, although the former Manchester United ace could lose his place with Rovers' skipper, Garry Flitcroft, due to return in midfield after suspension.

"I followed Mark Hughes as a kid and thought he was unbelievable," the young Scouser said. "It was my worst nightmare when he played against Liverpool because he always seemed to turn the game."