EMERSON Thome has drawn so much pleasure from helping Wanderers secure their immediate Premiership future that he now wants to be part of their long-term plans.

Rescued from a limbo existence at Sunderland last August, the likeable Brazilian has returned the favour with some wholehearted performances - even playing through the pain barrier to prove his commitment to the Reebok cause.

Now the former Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea stopper, who was kicking his heels on Wearside before Sam Allardyce threw him a lifeline, wants to discuss a more permanent arrangement.

"My thoughts are with the club that has been kind to me and that's Bolton," he said. "I've loved my time here so far and I am just looking to progress the club forward."

Thome has been so wrapped up doing his bit to avoid any late-season jitters that he has had no time to consider his next career move.

But, after playing key defensive roles in the Easter games that saw Wanderers break through the psychologically important 40-point threshold, he could know what is on offer as early as next week when Allardyce opens negotiations with the out-of-contract squad members he wants around next season.

In the meantime, Thome is urging his team-mates to look to themselves to make their individual contributions to the collective cause as Wanderers bid to end the season with a flourish.

"I just hope that, in the remaining games, we can go a little bit higher than we are at the moment because we have the ability," he said. "Everybody should look to themselves and make sure they do their own stuff properly and then, if they do that, they can look at helping others.

"It's a case of everybody looking to themselves, looking at what they do and asking 'Did I do enough or not?'."

Thome felt Wanderers deserved more than the point they took from the Aston Villa game but believes the 2-2 draw got them back on the right track after a lacklustre display at Middlesbrough.

He said: "The attitude and the performance was very good, unfortunately for us we didn't get the result but I think the performance lifted us up to think about the next games."

The powerful centre-back underlined his personal determination when he completed the Villa game, despite picking up an ankle injury. Two days later, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Bruno N'Gotty, helping keep the Wolves at bay.

"I didn't want to let my colleagues down," he said, reflecting on his gutsy display.