WANDERERS could end Peter Crouch's reign as the tallest footballer in the Premiership.

Chinese teenage sensation Yang Chagpeng has begun a month's trial at the Reebok, hoping to impress enough to eventually earn a move to Bolton.

The Wanderers coaching staff and his fellow academy players looked up to the 17-year-old before he had even kicked a ball.

As, at 6ft 9in, he stands two inches taller than England striker Crouch, and head and shoulders above the vast majority of his new training pals.

Chagpeng arrived in Bolton at the end of last week, along with Zhou Liao, his team-mate at Chinese Super League Club, Wuhan Guanggu.

Wanderers established a link with Wuhan in May which could result in more players following Chagpeng and Liao to the Reebok.

Chagpeng is believed to be the tallest professional footballer in the world and could finally give Sam Allardyce the kind of weapon up front that he has long coveted.

The Wanderers boss has made no secret of his admiration for Crouch.

Allardyce has wanted to sign the beanpole striker on a number of occasions down the years but, on each occasion, the transfer fee was too expensive.

If he is destined to never get Crouch, as seems likely, the Reebok boss is in pole position to get an even taller version.

Chagpeng's playing style is in the mould of Crouch and, at two inches taller and still growing, he could pose Premiership defenders even bigger problems.

Chagpeng broke into the Wuhan first team last season and Wanderers academy director, Chris Sulley, has been over to China to run the rule over him and Liao, who are rated as two of the brightest young talents in China.

Their one month stay at the academy will give the pair some experience of European culture and English football and then they will return to their club in China.

Wanderers will have first option on signing the players. But, even if Wanderers decide against signing them, Bolton will receive 20 per cent of any fee should either of them move to another European club from Wuhan in the future.