5 , ▁though ▁W im ble don ▁still ▁finished ▁in ▁nin th ▁place . ▁He ▁hit ▁ 1 6 ▁goals ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 – 9 6 , ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁club ' s ▁joint - top ▁sc orer , ▁along ▁with ▁strike ▁partner ▁E fan ▁Ek oku . ▁He ▁hit ▁nine ▁goals ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 – 9 7 , ▁before ▁he ▁was ▁signed ▁to ▁Bol ton ▁W ander ers ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁for ▁£ 3 . 5 mill ion , ▁which ▁was ▁a ▁record ▁signing ▁for ▁Bol ton ▁at ▁that ▁time . ▁ ▁Bol ton ▁W ander ers ▁He ▁scored ▁just ▁three ▁goals ▁in ▁ 1 7 ▁Premier ▁League ▁starts ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 – 9 8 , ▁as ▁Col in ▁Tod d ' s ▁side ▁sli pped ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁top - fl ight ▁after ▁finishing ▁ 1 8 th , ▁behind ▁ 1 7 th ▁place ▁Ever ton ▁on ▁goal ▁difference . ▁He ▁redis cover ed ▁his ▁scoring ▁touch ▁in ▁the ▁First ▁Division , ▁hitting ▁ 1 2 ▁goals ▁in ▁ 2 6 ▁starts ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 – 9 9 . ▁He ▁then ▁hit ▁ 1 4 ▁goals ▁from ▁ 2 4 ▁league ▁starts ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 0 , ▁as ▁Sam ▁All ard y ce ▁led ▁Bol ton ▁to ▁the ▁semi - final s ▁of ▁the ▁play - offs , ▁the ▁FA ▁Cup ▁and ▁the ▁League ▁Cup . ▁He