Fox Ebi can tame the Prem - Fojut

9:30am Friday 5th September 2008

JAROSLAV Fojut has tipped countryman Ebi Smolarek to out-fox Premier League rivals.

The young Wanderers defender is a big fan of the Polish striker and has followed his career closely.

And Fojut believes Gary Megson’s latest signing, who has joined on a season-long loan from Racing Santander, has the pedigree to make a major impact at the Reebok.

“Ebi’s a fox in the box,” he said. “He’s not a physical player but he’s very fast, has a good eye for goal and can play left or right wing, striker or off the striker.

“He scored a lot of goals for Poland and I think he will do well for Bolton.

“He’s played more than 30 times for the national side and was Poland’s top scorer in the Euro 2008 qualifiers two years ago.”

But Fojut believes the former Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund man will need time to adjust to his new surroundings – and has vowed to help his compatriot settle in.

“He will need time to adapt to the Premier League,” he added. “A lot of good players come here and disappoint because this league is completely different to any other in Europe.

“But he has scored goals in Holland, Germany and Spain – and I hope he can do the same here.

“It will be good for him that there is already another Polish person here. If he needs showing around town or wants to go for something to eat, then I will help him.”

Fojut returned to action for the reserves on Monday night after undergoing an operation to solve a long-standing hernia problem in the summer.

The 20-year-old centre-back made his Wanderers debut back in January 2006 – against Watford in the FA Cup – followed by his first Premier League appearance at Portsmouth a month later.

He featured just two more times the following season and, last term, spent a successful four-month spell on loan at troubled Luton.

But Fojut is now back at the Reebok and eager to break into Megson’s plans.

“I’m just glad to be playing again and feeling fine because for the last six months I’ve needed painkillers,” he said.

“I know Gary Cahill, Andy O’Brien and Danny Shittu are very good centre-backs, but I’m going to do my best to get in the team.”