True Brit Tom Frederick has declared himself fit and ready to put Brighton Bears on the European map.

The talented young forward from Hertfordshire has seen his ULEB Cup campaign cut cruelly short so far by a foot injury but he was wearing his colours with pride as Bears travelled to Cholet yesterday.

Frederick, 22, turned up for the trip wearing an England scarf, bought on a trip to Wembley during his schooldays.

Then, when a female American traveller latched on to the accents in the Bears squad and asked what part of the States the players were from, he proudly replied: "Hemel Hempstead."

Frederick's return to 90 per cent fitness, along with the debut of Olumide Oyedeji, will offer Bears added physical presence against an athletic Cholet outfit tonight (7.30).

He said: "I had to watch two of the games so it has been really hard for me.

"Fortunately I got the opportunity to play a lot at Scottish Rocks on Friday but I did a tape job on my foot myself that wasn't very satisfactory.

"After about 20 minutes it felt sore but I didn't re-injure myself. It was just very sore for a while."

He added: "Looking at the videotape of Cholet someone like Olumide will be very useful.

"They didn't have any real size. They have thin, athletic players.

"Their squad is similar to ours and the basketball is less structured than in Lithuania or Greece.

"I'm going to enjoy it that's for certain. As long as I play as well as I can, I know I can raise a few eyebrows."

Yesterday was just another uneventful day in Bears' European adventure.

Nick Nurse's club are tackling the ULEB Cup on a shoestring which meant a Ryan Air flight from Stanstead to Poitiers, with accompanying 6am departure from Brighton, rather than the more obvious but costly Gatwick to Nantes route.

Bears' journey involved a 90-minute flight, then a two-hour coach ride through the French countryside to accommodation arranged for them by Cholet.

Rather than the usual chain hotel in the town centre, the host club had come up with a magnificent 19th Century chateau, set in acres of land and lavishly decorated.

Next problem. No provision for lunch, leaving ten hungry Bears to head into town and offer the nearest McDonalds a major boost in trade.

However, the Bears were treated to a sumptuous dinner at their country retreat.

The party included French player Mani Laroche, who cannot expect any court time tonight but, as an interpreter, was yesterday's MVP.

Cholet is twinned with Solihull and even the locals admit the only thing it has going for it is its basketball team.

Their coach Tashin Kunter has told his players to win their five Group F home games and pull off "un coup" somewhere on the road.

With their own high-flyer due in town today, Bears will hope to pull off a coup of their own here tonight and score that historic first European win.