WHEN Derik last celebrated scoring a goal, Zinedine Zidane was watching from the dugout.

Wednesday night’s match-winner has waited a while to open his account at Bolton and is hoping his cup exploits will give him a leg-up in the estimation of current boss Phil Parkinson.

Derik reckons his last strike was for Real’s B Team – then managed by the French legend - against Hercules three years ago.

And though goal-scoring is not his forte, he is looking to capitalise on the absence of David Wheater through injury in tomorrow’s game against Millwall to get a rare first team start in defence.

“I have been training well, playing well every time I had the opportunity and it hasn’t been easy for me,” he told The Bolton News.

“I have not had many chances to score for Bolton, I am happy to score but now I am thinking about the future.

“I will keep working and try to do my best. I am putting all my effort in and giving everything I can for the shirt.

“I am comfortable with how I am playing. The team is confident and I like that but I do want to play my part.

“The manager has good players to make a choice.”

Derik played 28 games last season in all competitions and has flitted between centre-half, right-back and central midfield in his two seasons with the club.

The Spaniard is in the final year of his contract and hopes a return to the second tier will suit his game more than the rough and tumble of League One.

“I am not such a physical player so I think I would be better in the Championship or the higher divisions. In the lower league it is not my kind of character. I am not that kind of player,” he said.

“The Championship is a better fit.”

Parkinson is considering changes from the side beaten by Leeds over and above those forced by injury.

Derik is one of a handful of players who presented a good case for inclusion at the Den.

“I’m pleased for Derik because he has had to wait in the wings a little bit and not get the game-time he maybe wanted in pre-season but he grew into the game,” the manager said.

“We need to add something to what we did on Sunday. Morais coming back into the frame is big for us.

“Mark Little was at the best level he has been all pre-season too.”