SAMMY Lee has told Kevin Nolan that performances and patience are the keys to the international door.

The Wanderers top scorer has been strongly tipped as a future England player while the Republic of Ireland are rumoured to be ready to fast-track him into their national team.

But Lee, a valued member of Sven Goran Eriksson's coaching staff, has advised the 23-year-old midfielder to bide his time.

"It would be remiss of me to tout him round, but people in football are aware of his ability," the Wanderers assistant manager said today. "He has had recognition.

"He's doing an excellent job here and he's got to continue doing that.

"I wouldn't dare prejudice my position with England, but what I can tell Kevin is to keep on working and doing well for Bolton Wanderers.

"I don't want to put any pressure on him because he's done ever so well and he's a joy to work with, but it's early days in the season and early days in his career."

Liverpool-born Nolan, who has won England caps at youth and under 21 levels, qualifies by parentage to play for the Republic and is said to be high on a list of players the FA of Ireland want to recruit to bolster their squad for their qualifying campaign for Euro 2008.

He has given the Irish no encouragement, however, and insists that international football is not high on his agenda.

"It's not a massive ambition," he said. "If the call comes I'll be happy to take it but at the moment I'm just concentrating on Kevin Nolan and Bolton Wanderers.

"Maybe in the next few years I'll want a few caps but, with what's happening here, I'm learning all the time.

"I should get better and better and, hopefully, I can make the next step up."

Nolan has had an impressive stint as stand-in captain, scoring four goals in five games to take his total for the season to seven, and could again be handed the armband at Birmingham on Monday night, when Wanderers go into the first of five games in 13 days aiming to extend their five match winning run.

Sam Allardyce is expected to have a strong squad available with Abdoulaye Faye, Hidetoshi Nakata and Stelios all returning unscathed from international duty.

Kevin Davies has recovered from a rib problem and will again be available to lead the attack at St Andrew's but Henrik Pedersen is still nursing an Achilles injury that has kept him out of the last three games.

Nicky Hunt is back in training after being sidelined for two months with a leg fracture, but will need reserve team outings before he is considered for first team selection. Meanwhile, Ivan Campo, out since early September with a broken foot, is expected to return to training next week.