NAT Lofthouse spoke of his pride and delight today in seeing Michael Ricketts follow in his own illustrious footsteps on to the international stage.

The legendary Bolton and England centre-forward said the Wanderers' goal star's call up was richly deserved.

And he urged the Reebok favourite to make the most of his big chance. "Michael's bound to be nervous," the Wanderers' president predicted after Ricketts was named in Sven Goran Eriksson's experimental squad for Wednesday night's friendly international in Holland. "I was nervous when I played my first game for England and I had Matthews and Finney at the side of me!

"But if he gets his chance he's got to take it. I don't care what people say, I think Michael's got a great chance of playing in the World Cup Finals.

"I've seen him scoring all those goals and I'm like everyone else at Bolton Wanderers, I believe he's earned his call-up. He's played well, scored some great goals and proved himself. He's obviously had some good advice from Sam Allardyce.

"Let's hope he can get his chance. Because, if he plays well, he can be in the England side for a long time to come.

"I'm proud for Michael and for the town because he's a hell of a nice lad and his call-up is good for Bolton. I'd love to see him before Wednesday to congratulate him. If he ever needs a word of advice or encouragement from me, I'll be glad to help in any way I can."

Lofthouse, who scored 30 goals in 33 England appearances between 1950 and 1958 was the most famous Wanderer to wear the three lions on his chest.

Paul Jones was the last Bolton player to feature in an England squad when he was called up by Don Revie the 1973-4 season but the last to be capped while playing for the Wanderers was Freddie Hill who played inside forward against Northern Ireland and Wales in 1962.