Dr Sam's special treatment

By John May

Allardyce praises Okocha

Doctor Sam is in - and Bolton are grateful.

Bolton have one foot in the Carling Cup final as manager Sam Allardyce has shown skills which would do any surgeon proud.

Alladyce's brand of medicine has turned the Reebok into football's ER.

The good Dr Sam is ready to revive and resuscitate those whose career appears faded and jaded.

Just as importantly, he has also shown how to transplant heart into supposedly heartless mercenaries, thereby pumping life-blood into his team.

Like any emergency medicine, Allardyce's brand was borne out of tourniquet-like necessity.

With no prospect of a cash transfusion for big-money buys, Bolton's Premiership life was ebbing in January 2002 when Allardyce signed German striker Fredi Bobic on loan from Borussia Dortmund.

A month later a jolt of electro-therapy jerked football awake when he teased French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff to the Reebok.

Bobic back in the German fold - thanks to Dr Sam

Both played major roles in keeping Bolton up and since then, Allardyce has made an art-form of reviving players.

The list of those he has picked up and perked up is impressive:

Laurent Laville - currently sidelined with a knee injury - was signed from Lyon where he failed to get a regular game.

Bruno N'Gotty - a player who won nine French international caps when Marcel Desailly and Frank Lebouef were in their pomp - was snapped up from Marseille.

Ivan Campo - a fallen star from Real Madrid's Galacticos, now shining in a midfield role for Bolton.

Kevin Davies - released by Southampton boss Gordon Strachan, currently playing the best football of his career.

Emerson Thome - Out of the picture at Sunderland, but now rehabilitated into the Bolton line-up.

Simon Charlton - Looked to be on the down-slope at Birmingham, but given a new lease of life in a central defensive role.

Bobic is now with Hertha Berlin and a return to the German national team is testament to restorative powers of a spell in Dr Sam's surgery.

Allardyce's biggest success have been Campo, Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha.

There is nothing alternative or holistic about Allardyce's brand of medicine.

His secret is simply plenty of TLC, and knowing that even world-class stars need to feel wanted.

Davies responds to an arm around the shoulder

Allardyce stepped in when Paris St Germain's hesitation over a new contract sent out messages to Okocha.

Dr Sam's caring air persuaded Campo to downsize from the Bernabeu to the Reebok.

Djorkaeff has arguably been Allardyce's best capture, a midfielder of genuine world class.

Knowing his patient, Allardyce came calling when Djorkaeff was at his most mentally vulnerable due to his treatment by Dortmund, offering the Frenchman the first-team role he needed.

Davies is a classic example of a player who responds more positively to an arm round the shoulder instead of a finger wagged in the face.

Allardyce also firmly believes in indulging his players if he feels it will keep them happy.

The Bolton boss has the most enlightened and forward-thinking sports science department that transcends mere physiotherapy.

But Allardyce will not stand in the way if, for example, Djorkaeff wants to visit a pet chiropractor in France.

Allardyce's skill has not been so much in attracting players, but getting the best out of them.

He failed to revive Mario Jardel but the level of consistent performance from Okocha, Djorkaeff, Campo and others show they are not mere mercenaries along for the money.

A check-up shows that Bolton are in rude health, thanks to Dr Sam Allardyce, FRCS (Football's Revival of Career Specialist).