The 21-year old midfielder has had a great season this term, helping Sam Allardyce's side reach their current lofty position of 11th place in the Premiership. Despite this success, though, Nolan believes Bolton have even more to offer.

"We have got to start establishing ourselves as one of the top ten sides in the Premiership," says Nolan.

"We have always been a side who have let ourselves down and got into a dogfight at the end of the season," he continues. "We want to build on last season and get away from relegation as soon as we can. We have just got to a major cup final and might even get into Europe, which would be nice."

Such has been Bolton's success that the prospect of European football coming to the Reebok Stadium next season is a real possibility, either through the Carling Cup or by moving up the Premiership table.

"It may have surprised others how we have done, but it hasn’t surprised us within the camp. That’s what we expected of ourselves this year. We’re only half way through the season and we’ve got to keep doing it to prove everyone wrong. We’re just really happy with the way it’s going and long may it continue."

Over the past few seasons Nolan has become regular in Allardyce's starting line-up, playing in all but one of Bolton's 26 Premiership games. Crucially he has managed to improve his goalscoring and up to now the Liverpool-born player has scored seven Premiership goals and ten in all competitions.

"I do think that this season I have become more of an established member. I have made 100 or so appearances for them and we have got a few young lads on the fringes and coming into the squad so I do feel established."

So just how did Nolan come to be playing for Bolton?

"I was playing for Liverpool Schoolboys and was invited to Bolton for a training session," Nolan explains. "I was taken on just before my 15th birthday and got a contract at the end of that season. That was the first year of the Academy.

"I really enjoyed it at the club and it just got better when I went to the Academy. They looked after me really well. I moved up to Bolton for 18 months and lived with a family just around the corner from the training ground.

"I broke into the first team when I was 17 and had my first full season after that."

Nolan is fortunate to be blessed with the kind of versitility that marks him out as a hugely important player in the Bolton squad. His ability to play in a number of positions has been fully utilised by his street-wise manager who has often shifted Nolan around, according to the team's needs.

"I think I’ve played every position for Bolton! When I first came to the club, I came as centre midfield, but then when I was 16 or 17 they said I was tall so I could play at the back," says Nolan.

"As soon as the manager [Sam Allardyce] came in he said I couldn’t head the ball so he moved me back into midfield. This year, I have played more of an attacking role. I prefer to play in centre midfield.

"I like being in the thick of the action - if you’re not on the ball, you’re trying to bite at someone’s heels to get it. And it’s always where the most banter is in the middle of the park!"

Having been picked for England at Under-20 and Under-21 level, Nolan has progressed well and he can only have been helped by the influx of wonderfully gifted foreign stars at the Reebok.

"We’ve got some big-name players like Bruno N’Gotty, Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff," says Nolan. "You know in your own mind what you have got to do, but it’s good to get their opinions on things like how they approach games and how to handle yourself during a game."

Today's match promises to be the biggest game of Nolan's short career to date but the midfielder is not short of some big match experience having twice scored the winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"I scored the equaliser in our 2-1 win at Old Trafford in our first year in the Premiership and this year, I scored the goal that won the game 1-0," Nolan says.

"I have scored quite a few important goals. The goal I scored at Anfield on New Year’s Day when I was captain was pretty memorable. I was 19 and it was the first time I had been back to Anfield since I was with them until about 13. All the Liverpool staff caned me afterwards, but it was all good banter! They have always been good with me.

"And then there was my goal in the semi-final of the League Cup this season - it was great to win that. I was suspended for the second leg and it was a bit nerve-wracking to watch – I bit all my nails off! Thankfully, we got through and that will give us all a huge lift."

Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbrough, Carling Cup Final, Sunday 29 February 2004