Anelka not for sale, say Bolton

Bolton Wanderers' Nicolas Anelka (L) challenges Middlesbrough's Emanuel Pogatetz during their Premiership match at The Reebok Stadium in Bolton in September 2006. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce insists Anelka is not for sale.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce insists France striker Nicolas Anelka is not for sale.

Anelka has been linked with a move to French champions Lyon after failing to make any impression since since his club record eight million pounds move to the English Premiership club in August.

Former Real Madrid star Anelka has yet to score a Premiership goal for Bolton, with his solitary strike coming in the League Cup against Walsall.

But Allardyce, who claimed there had been no approach from Lyon, is determined to get the best out of Anelka and will not consider selling him when the transfer window opens in January.

He said: "If the president of Lyon did say he was interested in Nicolas without speaking to us, then he is out of order.

"We have had no contact with anyone about Nicolas. Even if we did, the answer would be no."

Bolton face one of Anelka's many former clubs on Saturday when Arsenal visit the Reebok Stadium and Allardyce backed his player to rise to the occasion.

"Nicolas' overall contribution has been very good but because we are not winning matches people are bound to make more of the fact he has not scored," he said Thursday.

"It would be a fantastic game for Nicolas to score his first Premiership goal for us against Arsenal.

"But if he gets one it has to be the winner, otherwise it does not mean anything."