Wanderers Res 2 Newcastle Res 1

REEBOK rookie Derek Niven made his Wanderers debut in esteemed company last night and took it all in his stride.

The confident young midfielder, signed from Raith Rovers a week ago, helped the Bolton second string to a victory over a cosmopolitan Newcastle side packed with internationals of Premiership quality and including England World Cup hopeful, Kieron Dyer, who took his first competitive steps on the way back after 10 months of shin problems.

At 17, Niven marvelled at the setting and the quality of the opposition, but never once looked over-awed by the occasion or the meteoric rise that has taken him from youth team football in Scotland to a six-figure transfer and a three year contract.

"I don't feel pressure at all," the teenager said, matter-of-factly. "It was good to play against those players. I enjoyed it but I tired a bit at the end because it was my first game for a while.

"Everything happened very quickly. I came down two weeks ago for a trial and then it all happened in a week. I came back down on the Sunday night and signed on the Tuesday. The stadium is magnificent and you get that feeling that everyone's on a high here."

Leicester, Derby and Spurs had all been impressed by the strength of the Falkirk-born midfielder, whose talents were first spotted by West Brom. But Sam Allardyce secured his signature after playing him in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Burnley and wasted no time in giving him his first taste of English football.

Despite fielding a comparatively inexperienced side, Wanderers manufactured the better first half chances and Paul Wheatcroft - playing his first game after returning from a loan spell at Rochdale - was unlucky to hit the post before Dean Holdsworth scored with a header in first half injury time when Magpies' keeper, Jonathan Brain, missed Nicky Southall's cross.

Brain was embarrassed again when Clive Ross doubled the advantage on 67 minutes with a 25-yard drive while, in contrast, Jani Viander impressed in the Bolton goal.

The Finland international, on a three-month loan from HJK Helsinki, made good saves from Olivier Bernard, Lomana Lualua and substitute Diego Gavilan before Shola Ameobi headed a consolation goal three minutes from time.

The win came at a cost for Wanderers, however, with Southall missing the second half after picking up a thigh injury.

Wanderers: Viander; Southall, Livesey, Buchanan, O'Hare; Ross, Niven, Norris, Wheatcroft; Holdsworth, Nishizawa. Subs Hunt for Southall (h-t), Downey for Wheatcroft (84 mins), Taylor for Niven (89 mins).

Newcastle: Brain; Barton, Distin, Bassedas, Griffin; Dyer, Acuna, Caldwell, Bernard; Ameobi, Lualua. Subs: Kerr for Griffin (72 mins), McClen for Bernard (72 mins), Gavilan for Dyer (62 mins).