Bolton captain Kevin Nolan has signed a new four-year contract.

Nolan's decision to committ his future to the club is a boost for Sam Allardyce in the wake of yesterday's 2-1 defeat at home to Blackburn.

Bolton now trail fourth-placed Arsenal - who have two games in hand - by five points.

Allardyce feared the Liverpool-born player might want to leave to improve his chances of making the England squad.

Nolan, though, stated that was never an issue.

"Ever since I've been at Bolton I've never thought that I would have to leave to get international recognition," he told the club's website. "Even though we are not a big city club, we have done fantastically well over the last four or five years.

"We are continuing to grow and getting better and better and I am glad that I will be a part of it."