GARETH Farrelly is putting club before country as he bids to get his career back on track.

The Republic of Ireland international is determined to put the bad times behind him by emerging as a force in the Wanderers midfield.

After tasting success in Aston Villa and Everton's first teams, he faced an uncertain future when Everton made it clear they no longer wanted him.

Wanderers gave him a career lifeline when Sam Allardyce plucked him from Everton's reserves and he is slowly but surely re-establishing himself as a midfield force to be reckoned with.

He produced a starring show in yesterday's stirring victory over promotion rivals Watford, proving his versitility, superior fitness and a determination to win illustrated by his major part in Wanderers' 70th minute equaliser.

He is enjoying the good times and, while he has ambitions on the international front, what happens on the club scene is most important to him at the moment.

"Playing for your country is great," he explains, "but after the two and a half years I have had at Everton I am only thinking about Bolton Wanderers and I am really enjoying myself."

Farrelly's rushed return from injury yesterday is evidence of the lack of options available to the Wanderers boss at the moment.

The midfielder had been sidelined for three weeks and was thrown straight back in at the deep end without a reserve game and only a couple of days training under his belt.

You would never have known it from his stamina-sapping display, first in the middle of midfield and then out wide on the left for the sizzling second half, which brought a tribute from his manager.

"He is six foot one, has a good engine and a lovely left foot," praised Allardyce. "He has got a bit of everything and that is coming out in his performances.

"Our first goal was largely down to him because it was a great run and he didn't give up."

His efforts put the goal on a plate for Ricardo Gardner although with a bit more luck he could have reaped the benefit of his toil and got the first home goal of his Reebok career that he is craving.

"I am disappointed I have not scored at the Reebok yet," he admitted. "I want to score goals and I've had lots of chances but so far I have been making the keepers look great."

With previous ever-present Per Frandsen serving his one-match suspension yesterday and Franck Passi, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Gardner all impressing, Allardyce will have a welcome midfield selection headache for next Saturday's home game against Crewe.

Farrelly added: "I have been frustrated recently because we were doing well and then I had to miss a couple of game with injury. For weeks I have been looking at this game and thinking it would be a massive game for us.

"I was blowing a bit in the first half but I have done a lot of work with the running team right through the season and that may have paid off."