Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson has explained why they've handed Joey O'Brien a new contract.

Some had predicted that the latest in a long line of knee injuries for the 24-year-old had spelt the end of his career at the Reebok, where he broke through from the academy ranks.

But Megson felt that by easing O'Brien's burden, his midfielder had a better chance of making a full recovery.

"A big club would do it and not look at the finance," he told the Bolton News of the contract offer. "There is no reason to do it, other than for the employee himself.

"We want to get him into the position where all he is thinking about is getting himself fit and back into the first team.

"His contract was coming up, so that was a worry for him and the injury is a worry for him, but the one thing we could do something about was the contract.

"Big clubs do it, and I'd like to think this club is a big club in its thinking.

"We're not Manchester United, Liverpool or anyone like that - but this is the right thing to do."