RICARDO Vaz Te feared for his Bolton future last season and could easily be plying his trade elsewhere had Sam Allardyce still been in charge.

Shipped out to Hull City on loan and a weekly bench warmer, the 20-year-old striker is suddenly enjoying a new lease of life under Sammy Lee.

And Vaz Te, an apparent recent target for Premier League new boys Derby County, is repaying Lee's faith and patience.

Two well-taken goals in the opening half against last season's UEFA Cup finalists took his pre-season tally to four.

And there's every chance he will start against Allardyce's Newcastle on August 11.

Jlloyd Samuel, one of the many home debutants last night, has certainly been impressed by the Portuguese under-21 international.

"He is a young lad with a lot of talent," said the former Aston Villa defender.

"The sky is the limit for him and he can be as good as he wants to be."

After missing the last two friendlies against Hibernian and Tranmere with a foot injury, record signing Nicolas Anelka returned to action.

The Frenchman created two excellent openings to put the result beyond doubt after being introduced as one of 10 second-half substitutes.

On both occasions he was denied by keeper Iraizoz.

However, the £8m striker, whose future continues to attract speculation, crossed for player/coach Gary Speed to seal an impressive victory in the 85th minute.

Spaniard Mikel Alonso made his first appearance in midfield and the Bolton fans in a sparse Reebok crowd of 6,507 got glimpses of Gerald Cid, Heider Helguson and Gavin McCann.

Espanyol, whose former players include such diverse talents as Adrian Heath and Alfredo Di Stefano, were predictably comfortable in possession.

Vital

More surprisingly, they posed an aerial threat with Jussi Jaaskelainen forced to make two vital first-half saves.

The Finnish international won Bolton's player of the season last term and was in magnificent form on the recent trip to South Korea.

And his reflexes were spot on to keep out headers from Tamudo after six minutes and Luis Garcia in the 34th minute.

In contrast, Iraizoz was powerless to prevent Vaz Te's first-half double.

The Portuguese star headed in the opener after 20 minutes from Abdoulaye Faye's right-wing cross and doubled Bolton's advantage six minutes from the break.

Lee wants Bolton to have more width and a greater cutting edge this season, hence the signing of Christian Wilhelmsson from Nantes and the likely arrival of Norwegian winger Daniel Braaten.

But old habits die hard. Lee spoke of a "new era" last night but Allardyce would have been proud of Vaz Te's second.

Kevin Davies headed on Danny Gutherie's long throw and Vaz Te swivelled adroitly to shoot home left-footed from eight yards.

Wilhelmsson had hoped to be included last night. But a delay obtaining a work permit has been caused by a French FA go-slow. So, he'll have to wait until Colchester on Saturday to hopefully pull on the No 10 shirt.

"We are working hard developing more adaptable playing styles," said Lee. "I think you can get too predictable playing only one system."

WANDERERS now have four senior keepers on their books after signing Hungarian under-21 international Adam Bogdan on a two-year deal.

Bogdan, 20, had a successful recent trial at the Reebok and joins from Vasas. He spent last season on loan at second division outfit Vecses.

His arrival possibly signals the end of Ali Al Habsi's Bolton career.

However, with Ian Walker injured, the Omani international made a belated senior debut last night as a second-half replacement. Tweet