Campo thrives in adversity

A season spent fighting relegation from the Premiership has proved an unlikely restorative for a player more accustomed to collecting medals with Real Madrid CF. For Spanish international Iván Campo, his stay with Bolton Wanderers FC has rekindled his "enjoyment" of football, despite a struggle at the wrong end of the table, which continues this weekend with a crucial home game against West Ham United FC.

Year's loan
Three years ago, Campo was a member of the Madrid side that lifted the UEFA Champions League with victory over Valencia CF, one of his former clubs, in the final at the Stade de France. Last season, however, he was not even among the substitutes as Madrid beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win it again and, unwanted at the Bernabéu, he duly accepted the offer of a year's loan at Bolton.

Feeling good
It is not something he regrets. "I can say that I have recovered the enjoyment I had lost before arriving here," the 29-year-old told uefa.com. "I've learnt how to enjoy football again, which is something I'd lost. Football is so different in England - here's it so passionate you cannot help but feel good about it."

'Can't afford to lose'
Now he is preparing for Bolton's own 'cup final' as victory over third-bottom West Ham will all but guarantee safety for the Lancashire side. Three points and seven goals better off already, victory would open a six-point gap on the Londoners. "I think a draw would be OK but a win would be perfect," said Campo. "What we can't afford is to lose. But I think we are doing really well now and we have a good chance of winning the game."

Foreign legion
Campo is part of Bolton's extensive foreign legion, that includes Icelandic captain Gudni Bergsson, their Danish leading scorer Henrik Pederssen, former French international Youri Djorkaeff and Nigerian playmaker Jay Jay Okocha. Against West Ham they will face a side renowned for producing its own exciting talent - with Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe the two most notable examples from the current crop.

Financial repercussions
Relegation could prompt an exodus of players from West Ham, however, who have the sixth highest wage bill in the Premiership, and defeat at the Reebok would certainly bring relegation closer despite a six-match unbeaten run. Hammers manager Glenn Roeder said: "We're hardened to it and we know the challenges over the next five games. We're not going to start playing the role of the victim because we really believe that we'll get out of the bottom three. We have to approach every game in a proactive way and we'll look to go up to Bolton and win the game."

Central midfield role
Despite a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea FC last weekend, Bolton have won four of their last eight league matches, with Campo - converted to a central midfield role under Bolton manager Sam Allardyce - scoring in their recent win against Manchester City FC.

'I feel comfortable'
"At the beginning, I was playing as central defender but things didn't work out as expected," he said. "Then the coach, who really has shown how much he trusts me, decided to try another position. It was a little bit strange at the beginning as I had not played there once in my whole career, but I've got used to it and now I feel really comfortable in that position." He, and Bolton, will feel more comfortable still if they secure a priceless victory on Saturday.