Ghana-born Riga is the least known of manager Gary Megson's summer recruits after spending most of his career in Holland before a three-year spell in Spain with Levante.

Blessed with electric pace and an eye for goal, Riga is able to play as a wide midfielder or striker, and if he again spends Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle on the bench, he looks sure to make his competitive debut in Tuesday's Carling Cup tie against Northampton.

His explosive style and flowing dreadlocks mark him out as a potential fans' favourite at the Reebok Stadium.

That was a mantle once held by Nigerian star Okocha, who for four years lit up a corner of Lancashire, and indeed the Premier League, with his outrageous skills and sometimes spectacular goals.

And Riga admits memories of Okocha's heyday with the Trotters were a major factor when it came to deciding where his future lay.

"I knew much about Bolton because one of my favourite players was Okocha," he said.

"When the manager came over to visit me in Amsterdam I already had a very good feeling about it.

"I always watched Bolton because of Okocha, who I think is the best dribbler ever."

Riga continued: "When he was playing for Bolton you could definitely see that he was their playmaker and everything was coming from him - I always enjoyed watching him."

Riga was nicknamed the 'Bullet' during his time with Levante as a result of his explosive pace, which helped him to score 28 times in 104 appearances in Spain, where he often played in midfield.

His final season with the Valencia club proved to be tumultuous as he joined in an on-field strike during a match with Deportivo la Coruna in May in protest at the cash-strapped owners' failure to pay the players.

With his future now looking brighter at Bolton, Riga hopes to repay the faith shown in him by Megson and gun down his rivals in the Premier League.

"I hope to make this name 'Bullet' true, and I think I will," Riga added.

"I hope so because for a football player it's very important to enjoy the fans and they can enjoy you."