Thursday 11 December 2014 11:34, UK
Eidur Gudjohnsen believes he is rejoining a Bolton side on an upward trajectory under "no-nonsense" manager Neil Lennon.
The veteran former Iceland international, 36, is back at Wanderers 14 years since he last played for them and could feature against Ipswich this Saturday.
In his previous two seasons at the Macron Stadium, Gudjohnsen enjoyed two play-off campaigns, an FA Cup and League Cup semi-final.
And while Neil Lennon's current crop of players are still some way off reaching the play-offs again next May, Gudjohnsen believes the Northern Irishman can continue to lead Wanderers up the Sky Bet Championship table.
"In recent weeks there's been much improvement, especially results-wise," he said.
"We're unbeaten now in five which is very positive. I think we've become resilient. There's quality there with a winning mentality that Neil Lennon wants to bring into the team. There's room for a lot of improvement as well. I can see things are going in the right direction.
"It's a long season but we'll end up where we deserve to end up. There's a great mentality here now, a good squad of players and confidence is getting better.
"It's early days; it's only seven games since Neil Lennon took over. We're still at the wrong end of the table but I'm sure in weeks to come we'll be at the right end."
Former Celtic boss Lennon has unquestionably had a positive effect on a team which were bottom of the pile when he arrived in October.
Gudjohnsen is well placed to judge the qualities of up-and-coming managers, having worked under both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola during his career, but he was reluctant to make comparisons with his new boss.
"I don't like comparing people," he stressed.
"All the managers have reached the level where they are at on their own credit.
"Neil Lennon, from what I can see, is very straightforward, no-nonsense, that's what you get from him.
"He's got a big winning mentality which he has had as a player and taken that into his management style. He's been very successful at Celtic and this is what he's trying to bring into this group of players and this club."
