Wanderers' flying start to the season was hailed at international level today when Gerry Taggart's recall to the Northern Ireland fold was officially confirmed.

The big Ulsterman, one of the leading lights as the Burnden heroes have blazed a trail to the top of Division One, is in the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Armenia in Belfast on October 5.

Irish boss Bryan Hamilton made it clear that restoring Taggart to the international scene is a direct consequence of Wanderers' barnstorming start and the rejuvenation of a player who was plagued by fitness and form problems last season.

Hamilton confirmed: "Gerry is fit again, determined and playing well as Bolton lead Division One. So it's the right time to bring him back."

Taggart, captain of his country at one stage and still only 25, has not figured at international level since his £1.5 million transfer from Barnsley in July 1995. He won the last of his 35 caps a month earlier in a home defeat by Latvia.

But his form this season has been a revelation. He captained Wanderers in their first eight games before passing the armband to Gudni Bergsson, who returned after injury at Bradford on Saturday.

Colin Todd has been glowing in his praise of Taggart's performances this season and paid a special tribute to the Belfast-born defender after the Valley Parade win, confirming: "Gudni took over the captaincy but Gerry accepted the decision brilliantly."

Aidan Davison has paid for a lack of match practice by losing his place in the Northern Ireland squad as understudy to Nottingham Forest's Alan Fettis. The Wanderers third string keeper has lost his place to Hull City's highly-rated 19-year-old Roy Carroll but he remains on standby.

Meanwhile, Wanderers will have a score to settle when they lock horns again with Bristol City at Burnden Park tonight.

Joe Jordan's stubborn Second Division side is the only team to shut out the prolific Bolton attack in nine games so far this season and although they will arrive as Coca-Cola Cup underdogs, no-one at Burnden is taking second round success for granted.

Colin Todd expressed his satisfaction after seeing his Division One leaders lay a solid foundation in a scoreless first leg at Ashton Gate and is anxious to see them complete the job in characteristic attacking style.

The Burnden boss has seen his free-scoring Wanderers bounce back from the season's only setback at Southend with three successive league wins, producing 12 goals and confirming their status as favourites to bounce back into the Premiership at the first attempt.

But he was making no distinction between league and cup when he stressed today: "It's important for us to make progress in the Coca Cola Cup, just as it's important to continue to make progress in the league.

"We've had a good start to the season and we want to keep the momentum going. We're half way there because we did a good job down at their place and we hope to capitalise on home advantage tonight.

"But people shouldn't expect us to go out and win the game easily. Hopefully we'll play with the right tempo and get some goals but they won't make it easy for us and supporters may have to be a little patient."

Jimmy Phillips, who suffered a painful knock on the shin in a collision with City striker Shaun Goater in the first leg, picked up another knock in Saturday's 4-2 win at Bradford and is expected to be fit. That will leave Todd in a position to name an unchanged team with skipper Gudni Bergsson continuing at right back after displacing Steve McAnespie at Valley Parade.

Todd welcomed the Icelandic international's return: "It was good to have Gudni back after his injury and, after adjusting to the pace in his first full game of the season, I thought he did well."

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