Megson clutches Anelka straw as Jones inspires Sunderland

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'Le Sulk' had one of those away days to forget, not helped by the inability of his team-mates, including two wingers, to turn their vastly superior possession into goalscoring chances.

But with 10 Barclays Premier League goals to his name, Anelka is a highly prized commodity, especially to a team who have only managed 12 goals from other sources.

His finishing skills are just as coveted by many other clubs, with Chelsea looking the most likely to test Bolton's resolve with a possible £10million bid for the Frenchman.

Bolton boss Gary Megson said: "Nic is an A-list player and of course he's very important to us. No one at Bolton wants him to go and we hope he falls into that category. It sounds glib of me to say this but nothing has happened yet.

"Transfers have to suit three parties - the selling club, the buying club and, most of all, the player himself. Nic is entirely the opposite to his reputation. We get on very well. He is a terrific person and he likes a laugh and a joke. He trains very well and is great in terms of looking after himself. He's a top pro and a top person.

"It's not a case of persuading him to stay because we're not at that position. He's very well liked, fans adore him and he's scoring a lot of goals. It is hypothetical at the moment but it may become an issue."

Bolton are now level on points with Sunderland, just outside the drop zone, after the home side scored three in a Premier League game for the first time in six years.

It was a critical victory after so many disappointments late in the game recently and Keane showed how much it meant as he prowled the technical area, haranguing his players in that familiar menacing but effective manner.

One player who escaped Keane's censure was the outstanding Kenwyne Jones, who scored the second goal and played a part in the other two. He first battled through three challenges to set up Kieran Richardson's first goal for Sunderland on 13 minutes and then beat Kevin Davies to a corner to head in his fifth of the season on 32 minutes.

Bolton offered little in attack until they found a way back when Craig Gordon's poor positioning allowed El Hadji Diouf to swing a long-range free-kick just inside the post. Sunderland held firm in the second half and wrapped it up in the final minute when Jones' flicked header released sub Daryl Murphy to hold off Danny Guthrie and fire home the third.

Keane said: "Jones has been brilliant for us and what impresses me most is that, apart from his goals and assists and being a real handful, he works really hard. He is a team player."

The manager was also encouraged by a goal and strong display from Richardson, who is fully fit after finally getting to the bottom of the back injury which had sidelined him for three months.

Richardson said: "I was in agony at the European Under 21 Championship in the summer, and I didn't know what it was. I came here, the medical didn't pick it up, but I was struggling to sleep at night.

"Something went in the Liverpool game and a scan showed a fracture in my spine. It's common in athletes, long jumpers and cricketers. I was in a cast for four weeks which made me sweat a lot and I don't know if it's completely healed yet, but I don't feel in pain any longer and hopefully I will be OK for the rest of my career."

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 6; Whitehead 7, McShane 6, Higginbotham 7, Collins 6; Chopra 5 (Leadbitter 46min, 6), Miller 7, Etuhu 7, Richardson 7 (O'Donovan 70, 4); Cole 6(Murphy57, 5), Jones 9. Booked: Richardson.

BOLTON (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen 5; Samuel5 (Guthrie 57, 7), AO'Brien 6, Meite 4, Gardner 6; Diouf 4, McCann 7, J O'Brien 6, Nolan 6 (Campo 87), Davies 6; Anelka 5. Booked: Davies, Diouf.

Man of the match: Kenwyne Jones.

Referee: Phil Dowd.