JERMAINE Johnson is determined to make the most of his dream transfer, despite ending up on the losing side on his home debut.

The young Jamaican, who has wasted no time in winning the hearts of Wanderers' fans, offered a succinct statement of intent after the Sunderland defeat.

"I just want to go out and do my best for Bolton and be happy!" said the midfielder from Tivoli Gardens.

The smiling Johnson has shown precisely why Sam Allardyce was so anxious to keep him under wraps for the best part of two months while the details of his transfer were being sorted out.

The Wanderers' boss only needed to see him in a 45 minute pre-season trial at Halifax to know he had unearthed a prize talent. So he kept him out of the public gaze until unveiling him at Arsenal, just days after his work permit had been granted and the transfer - which is believed will eventually cost around £700,000 - was rubber stamped.

The 21-year-old Jamaican international's performance at Highbury was an impressive debut by any standards and he followed that up with another eye-catching display against Sunderland, suggesting Wanderers have a star in the making.

"I was a bit frightened about the crowd," the youngster admitted before flying out with Ricardo Gardner for Jamaica's final World Cup qualifier in the United States. "But I just went out there determined not to listen to them and to just do my best.

"I was frightened at Arsenal too but I still enjoyed it."

Reflecting on the Sunderland defeat, Johnson highlighted Thomas Sorensen's penalty save from Per Frandsen as the turning point. "It would have been better if we had scored the penalty," he agreed. "It would have made it harder for them to come back into the game."

Gardner's presence at the Reebok was a major factor in Johnson signing for Wanderers after an ill-fated trial at Ipswich last season when he did not get a game to display his talents. But the new boy says he had set his heart on playing in England long before Gardner came to Bolton in 1998.

"It was my ambition to play in England before Ricardo came here," he explained. "Now I feel really great to have joined Bolton Wanderers and to be playing with him.

"I have dreamed of playing in the Premier League and now I have my chance. I just have to take it. I hope I can get better."

Allardyce echoed the tributes of the Reebok fans who applauded Johnson's performance.

"The lad's an excellent player," the manager said. "He carried on from where he left off at Arsenal for us. The more he finds his feet in the Premiership and with the ability he's got he's going to get better for us and that is very promising.

"He's a very promising young player. He and Ricardo pal around together on and off the field, which is good. The lad has excellent talent."

Jamaica cannot qualify for next summer's World Cup finals but Johnson says they are not going to the States just for the ride. "We are going to take it seriously," he insisted.