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Sky Bet Championship: Eidur Gudjohnsen cleared to play for Bolton again

Eidur Gudjohnsen: The Icelander is poised to begin a second spell with Bolton Wanderers.
Image: Eidur Gudjohnsen: Left Bolton for Chelsea 2000

Bolton have confirmed Eidur Gudjohnsen has received the necessary international clearance to allow him to feature for Wanderers again this weekend.

The 36-year-old former Chelsea and Barcelona forward rejoined the Sky Bet Championship side last Friday, 14 years since he departed, but the Icelander was unable to feature against Reading 24 hours later as he did not have permission.

However, the club have confirmed that international clearance has now been granted and he is free to play against Ipswich on Saturday, who were the opponents for Gudjohnsen's final Bolton match in 2000.

"It's funny, it really is the full circle," said Gudjohnsen, who scored on that day.

"It was a good game. We should have won that game, let it slip and ending up drawing 2-2 in the first leg of the play-offs."

Gudjohnsen was injured for the return leg and Wanderers would be eliminated in a crazy game at Ipswich, which the hosts won 5-3 after being awarded three penalties, while two Bolton players were also sent off.

Gudjohnsen departed the club that summer and went on to enjoy huge success in this country and in Spain.

"It was very disappointing at the time because we had a great side for that league, a lot of quality there," he said of that play-off heartache.

"We were unfortunate not to at least make the play-off final or get promoted which is probably the reason why I left at the time.

"I had the opportunity to go to the Premier League and Chelsea. It was a step I had to make, these chances don't come up very often in your lifetime.

"It wasn't easy for me to leave because I felt very settled here and I always have great memories from Bolton."

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