FREDI Bobic flew home to Germany yesterday with plaudits ringing in his ears after becoming the first Bolton player in 39 years to score a top flight hat-trick.

Not since Freddie Hill netted all three in the 3-2 victory over Sheffield United at Burnden Park in March 1963 has a Wanderer claimed the match ball in either the old First Division or the Premiership.

But the German managed it in 38 first half minutes with a devastating display of finishing to pave the way to a landmark victory that all-but secured safety for Sam Allardyce's survival squad and virtually condemned Ipswich to the drop.

"Everyone was really pleased for Fredi," Simon Charlton said, leading the tributes to the loan star who failed to score in his first nine appearances after joining Wanderers on loan from Borussia Dortmund in January but broke his duck in the 3-2 victory over Villa and took every chance that came his way against the woeful Tractor Boys

"I wouldn't say he's struggled but I don't think he's shown in previous games what he can do. But on Saturday he looked the part.

"Apart from scoring he really put his foot in and worked tremendously hard, which he always does to be fair. Things were coming off for him so the lads and the manager are so pleased for him to come off to the standing ovation from the fans. He thoroughly deserved it."

Allardyce timed his 80th minute substitution of Dean Holdsworth for Bobic to allow the German the opportunity to take the accolades from the supporters without leaving himself short-handed, having been forced to use his first two substitutes in the first half when Paul Warhurst and Ricardo Gardner limped off injured.

"We were thinking about doing it earlier but I wanted to go as far as we could because we'd made two enforced changes and this was going to be our last substitution," the manager explained. "If anything else had happened to a player we'd have used our three so we had to take it nearer the end before we took him off to give him that standing ovation he richly deserved."

Allardyce confirmed that he has already negotiated a deal that would keep Bobic at the Reebok on a permanent basis when his loan runs out, provided it suits both parties. But the matter is unlikely to be discussed until Wanderers know for sure that they will be playing Premiership football next season.

"It's been a long haul for Fredi in terms of goals," he said, "but he knows what is needed in the Premiership with the commitment and effort that he's produced and he never allowed his confidence to dip as some strikers can when they are not scoring. In his initial spell he was just getting used to the players in the Premiership. People are finding him a little bit more now and he's taking full advantage.

"I think the goal against Villa relieved the pressure."

Bobic, who last scored a hat-trick for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, was surprised to be handed the matchball - the traditional trophy for hat-trick heroes in England.

"My team-mates said I must have the ball and I said 'Okay, but why?' I've scored a hat-trick but it's different in Germany, where they don't get the ball," he explained. "But it's nice and I will clean it and next week they can sign it. I'm very proud, very happy. Winning 4-0 at half time and three goals for me ... what more can I say?"

Selecting the first of his three goals as the most important, he added: "It was the first chance and the first goal. After that we played very clever and waited for our next chances."