PICTURE the scene . . . Arnar Gunnlaugsson, the quicksilver idol of the Reebok crowd, operating as a defensive midfield player! Seeing his will o'th wisp performances as the No 1 entertainer in the Nationwide League, it's hard to imagine the crowd pleaser restricted to a disciplined role in a team intent on soaking up pressure and nicking what they can.

You certainly can't believe he'd ever enjoy playing his part in a "boring" team performance.

But that's the way of the world for the Wanderers top scorer who doesn't just lead a double life - he positively revels in it.

"The national team does play boring, defensive football," Gunnlaugsson says unashamedly, "Not like the entertaining football we play here at Bolton.

"But when you think our country only has a population of about 250,000, it has got to be that way.

"I have to change my attitude completely when I play at international level. I like to attack but in the national team I play on the left of midfield . . . as a sort of tactical defender."

Hence his tolerance and understanding of teams who use similar ploys to frustrate Wanderers. For instance, Oxford United, who worked morning and afternoon on tactics specifically designed to stifle the highest scoring Division One attack.

"I know how difficult it is to play against teams like that," he explains. "That's how we play in the national side. "You aim to be solid, pack the defence and try to be dangerous on the break, which is how Oxford played."

The formula has made Iceland one of the surprise packages in the opening shots of the European Championships. They've held World Champions France and Armenia to draws and snatched a last gasp goal to beat Russia 1-0 in Reykjavik to achieve one of the shock results of the qualifying stages of the competition.

Even the most optimistic Icelander couldn't have envisaged the national side lying second in Group 4 - even after three games. But they currently trail Ukraine by one point and, for the moment, are ahead of France, Russia and Andorra!

Little wonder that Gunnlaugsson's smiling.

"It's enjoyable to get some success with the national side," he says. "The games against the Ukraine will be very interesting now. If we can manage a win in Reykjavik, we are capable of going there and getting something."

Gunnlaugsson has even more reason to be happy with life on the club scene. The Nationwide Player of the Month award for September officially acknowledged his emergence as one of the game's hot properties, which has predictably led to a certain amount of disturbing transfer speculation.

There has been a suggestion of talks opening on a new contract but the Ice-man is keeping his cool on that score.

"I already have a contract until the year 2000 and I intend to see that out," he pledged, "although you can never say anything is sure in football. "I love it here at Bolton and I'm grateful to Colin Todd for giving me the opportunity after some bad years because of injuries. He took the chance and I just want to repay him for showing that faith in me."

And on the question of a new deal? "That's up to the club, not me. But I am happy here and I would like to stay."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.