Megson thinks new signing Elmander can do the job this season

Johan Elmander wasted no time in winning over the Reebok fans as delighted manager Gary Megson revealed that his club record summer signing might be more of a snip than they had bargained for.

The Swedish striker, who squeezes into his national side in midfield and was deemed a disappointment at both Feyenoord and Brondby, has acquired a few critics along the way to his Barclays Premier League dream.

Chuffed: Bolton manager Gary Megson has been singing the praises of Swedish striker Johan Elmander after his team's opening day victory

But at least Megson, who prised £15million from Chelsea for predecessor Nicolas Anelka, knows that Elmander is a better pound-for-pound prospect than we realised considering Toulouse's original £22m price tag.

'He was £8.2m,' declared Megson which still leaves him marginally more expensive than the £8m Sam Allardyce spend on Anelka, but Elmander is a snugger fit in the Bolton template.

He's a good player,' added Megson. 'Hopefully he'll get the goals, but the work-rate you've seen is his normal game. Getting hold of the ball, he's very intelligent.'

Elmander will certainly do for Kevin Davies, a bustling, old-school centre-forward who gave hapless centre-half  Ryan Shawcross a torrid time and a fat lip as well as punishing Stoke's defending with a deft back-header.

Davies said: 'Johan is a threat - he looks decent at everything and he even tackles back. He's honest, hard-working, and has belief in himself. He's settled in well and the lads have taken to him.'

As manager Tony Pulis admitted, Stoke were stunned by Gretar Steinsson's fluke 35th-minute opener from the right wing. 'I could say I practise it every day,' said the full-back. 'But only an idiot would shoot from there.'

Stoke can look lumpen but skipper Andy Griffin said: 'We'll keep grafting away. There is spirit and character in this team. We have to dust ourselves down now and correct a few things.'

Bolton (4-3-3): Jaaskelainen 6; Steinsson 7, Cahill 6, A O'Brien 6, Samuel 5; Nolan 6, Muamba 7, J O'Brien 6; Davies 7, Elmander 8 (McCann, 77), Taylor 6. Booked: Steinsson.
 
Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen 4; Griffin 5, Cort 5, Shawcross 4, Wilkinson 5; Delap 5, Olifinjana 4, Whelan 5 (Lawrence, 56), Cresswell 5; Sidibe 4 (Fuller, 66), Kitson 4. Booked: Olifinjana, Lawrence.

Man of the match: Johan Elmander.

Referee: Chris Foy.