The Iceland international defender, 26, emerged a hero for his part in the club's impressive late charge to safety after joining the club in January on a three-and-a-half-year deal from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.

He took no time to acclimatise to the demands of English football and won many plaudits for a series of all-action displays at right-back.

However, as he reflected on the club's at times desperate plight, Steinsson admitted the pressure became almost unbearable at times.

Steinsson told PA Sport: "Everyone gave everything and played their part in our survival, but we don't want to be there again this season.

"It affects players and it also affects players' families. It's very stressful.

"We are footballers but we are also footballers when we go home to our families as well.

"Last season was a very worrying time for everyone concerned - the players, the staff and the supporters.

"But at the same time it was a good lesson for the club and the players.

"We have to appreciate that we are in the Premier League because we almost lost that status.

"Now we need to look forward and try and push on this season."

Five-and-a-half years after going on trial at Bolton on the recommendation of compatriot and Wanderers hero Gudni Bergsson, Steinsson did not think twice about finally signing for the club in January.

He said: "I always knew when I came here it would be difficult - and I knew that we could get relegated.

"But I just had faith in the team and I knew that we would not go down.

"We had the players who could keep us up and I knew that at home we wouldn't lose many games.

"The last few games showed the strength of character in the side and that's so important in this league."

For Steinsson, playing in the English top flight marked the fulfilment of a dream.

But he is modest about his own contribution to the club's successful fight against the drop.

"I'm just pleased to have been given the opportunity to come here," he said.

"I played many games in the second half of last season and I tried to do my job.

"It takes time to get used to the Premier League and to new team-mates.

"Back in 2002 I was disappointed about not being signed but then it makes you really want to come back again one day.

"This league is really athletic and you have to be strong because you are up against some of the best players in the world.

"It's much faster and much more physical than I thought."

Megson's men marched to safety after winning three and drawing two of their final five games, a rich testament to the spirit within the squad.

"I thought after the Tottenham game at White Hart Lane that we would stay up," said Steinsson.

"If we could produce another performance like that then I knew we would not be going down.

"I just felt that we had come this far then we weren't going to mess it up.

"We all played really well - Bibi (Ricardo Gardner), Jlloyd (Samuel), Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Ali Al Habsi and Jussi Jaaskelainen - we were a great unit.

"The midfield stood up to the challenge as well and it was a great team effort.

"The players should be proud and so should the fans because they were with us all the way.

"Everyone gave everything and played their part but as I said we don't want to be there again."

Steinsson's popularity with Bolton fans increased when he took the decision to live near to the Reebok Stadium, rather than in a plush pad in Manchester city centre or leafy Cheshire.

He explained: "I am lazy in the morning and don't like to have to travel far.

"I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes. But the fans have been brilliant.

"You can go anywhere and they really give you respect and appreciate what you do."

There is a renewed mood of optimism at the Reebok Stadium following the signings of Birmingham midfielder Fabrice Muamba for £5million and Sweden striker Johan Elmander in a club-record £10million transfer from Toulouse.

Steinsson added: "With the new players we have then we should be looking to push into the top half of the league this season."