GUDNI Bergsson has pinned his Bolton colours to the mast for tomorrow’s battle of the Icelanders.

Countrymen Gretar Steinsson and Eidur Gudjohnsen will go head to head at the Reebok as Wanderers and Spurs fight for a place in the last eight of the FA Cup.

And watching on with interest will be Bergsson, who featured for both clubs in a distinguished 15-year career in England but who makes no secret of his allegiances.

“I’m a Boltonian first and foremost, so I’m hoping we get a result,” said the legendary defender, who made more than 300 appearances for the club until his retirement in 2003.

“We have a great record against Spurs, especially at home.

“You never quite know what you are going to get from them. Just when you think they might push on and really challenge the top sides, they disappear, like they did against Wolves on Wednesday night.

“They have got a great group of players, who on their day can play some great football — but if we can close down midfield and keep a positive approach, then we’ve got every opportunity of getting a good result.”

In his job as a media pundit in Iceland, Bergsson has reason to pay special attention to tomorrow’s cup clash, as it potentially pits two of his home country’s most famous exports against each other.

Aside from a game spent on the sidelines through illness, Steinsson has held down a place on the right of a much-improved Wanderers defence since the end of November.

Gudjohnsen made his debut for Spurs in their 1-0 midweek defeat against Monaco and a return to English football for the first time in four years.

The burly striker, who also cut his teeth under Colin Todd at the Reebok in the late nineties, has struggled to find first-team football since leaving Barcelona in the summer.

Rumours of personal problems also followed the skilful 31-year-old to White Hart Lane, but Bergsson insists that Gudjohnsen has made the move to the North London club for the right reasons.

“The only motive for the move is football,” he said. “There is nothing else behind it.

“He had a good contract at Monaco, and I’ll bet the weather was better than it is in London, but he has moved to Spurs purely for footballing reasons.

“It’s a great opportunity for him. It’s a city he knows well after living there for six years and he will be desperate to do well.”

Bergsson has paid close attention to Wanderers’ fortunes since leaving English shores, returning to play in Jussi Jaaskelainen’s charity testimonial over the summer.

And he reckons the club he encountered back in August is now a much-changed one, following the arrival of former Burnden Park team-mate Owen Coyle.

“Owen has had some difficult games since he took over but there have been some really encouraging signs,” he said.

“They way the team has approached things has been good to see. Over the last couple of seasons it has not been a healthy working environment.

“The fans were frustrated and in my opinion, they had good cause because of the style of football being played.

“That has changed now and I think that because the mood is better, there is a chance to move forward.

“Fans do play a vital part for the players, and vice-versa. It’s great to see that has changed for the better now.

“The cup will be a big lift and then there are a lot of winnable matches to come.

“I’m a bit worried that we are not scoring as many as we should. But we are playing better stuff and I think both Jack Wilshere and Vladimir Weiss have been really positive.”

Steinsson’s recent form at the back for Wanderers has also pleased Bergsson, who was instrumental in his move from AZ Alkmaar just over two years ago.

“I think Gretar has improved because he is getting a run in the team,” he said.

“He was frustrated at losing his place and I think he has really grabbed the opportunity.

“The team is defending better and a lot of that has also been down to Zat Knight’s improving form.

“He seems to be more solid, and though they will miss Gary Cahill, you can see the improvement in the back four as a whole.”