RICHARD Rufus, the defender at the centre of the two penalty verdicts that stunned Wanderers on Saturday, is being tipped for England honours by Charlton manager Alan Curbishley.

The Addicks' chief considered handing Rufus the team captaincy after selling Mark Kinsella to Aston Villa but gave the armband to Graham Stuart instead, explaining: "I don't want anything to detract from Richard's performances."

Curbishley added: "If he'd been fully fit last year he would have been in contention for the England squad. I think he's got the ability to force his way in there and I hope they have a good look at him."

Rufus went down in a challenge from Bruno N'Gotty in the 26th minute to win the penalty from which Chris Bart-Williams cancelled out Youri Djorjkaeff's early goal and escaped punishment six minutes later when he sent Henrik Pedersen flying in the penalty area - decisions that infuriated Sam Allardyce.

Curbishley was delighted with the three points but admitted he feared his side was heading for a hiding. "We go a goal down after two minutes, lose Gary Rowett after five and take a bit of a battering in the first 10 minutes," he acknowledged. "But I was delighted the way they came back and fashioned a win.

Curbishley admitted to being surprised by Wanderers' switch of tactics, employing Henrik Pedersen on the left in a departure from their usual formation.

"I thought Bolton were going to play 4-3-3 but they started 4-2-4, got the ball into the box very quickly and put us under enormous pressure. When they went in front after two minutes everything went out of the window.

"We slowly got ourselves back into it but after we went 2-1 up, with the lads playing in odd positions, we invited some pressure but Deano (Kiely) came to the fore and made some good saves."