Andranik prepared to bide his time

Theboltonnews - ANDRANIK Teymourian is taking a leaf out of Thierry Henry's book as he waits patiently to make his presence felt at the Reebok.

The Iranian midfielder's opportunities have been limited since he joined Wanderers in the summer.

But he is happy to bide his time, confident that his career is in good hands and encouraged by the fact that Henry was not an instant hit when he first arrived at Arsenal.

"Sam Allardyce told me that he is optimistic about my future," said Andranik, who featured again in the reserves this week.

"He also told me how, at the start of Thierry Henry's career in England, he did not do well in his first few months. But, with time, he was able to find his best-ever form.

"The manager told me to be hopeful for the future and I will give my best effort so that I can perform well for Bolton.

"I have a contract here for two years and I am satisfied with my current situation at Bolton."

Although his experience of English football has been limited to one brief substitute appearance in the Premiership and two Carling Cup starts, the 23-year-old has already noticed a vast gulf in quality compared to what he was accustomed to in Iran, where he starred for Abu Moslem.

But he is confident that, in time and with Allardyce's assistance, he can mount a serious challenge for a first team place.

"I have not played much, but to establish myself in a league that is the fastest paced in the world, I need time," Andranik told Iran Sports Press.

"Things are so organised here that I cannot even talk about the differences between here and in Iran. When a meeting here is set for 12:01, the meeting starts at exactly that time."

Andranik, meanwhile, could be heading for a spell in the international wilderness following FIFA's decision to suspend Iranian football's governing body from international activity, citing political interference in the running of the sport in the country.

Having punished the Kenyan football federation for similar reasons at the end of October, the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) have been indefinitely suspended following a meeting of the FIFA Emergency Committee.

In August, the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA gave Iran a deadline of November 15 to "comply with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes," which passed without sufficient progress having been made, according to a FIFA spokesman.