Everton winger Yannick Bolasie is expected to return to first team action soon.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce has told The Guardian that he is crying out for Yannick Bolasie’s return – and feels the player can’t wait to get back to first team action.
Allardyce has enjoyed a strong start to life as Everton boss, leading the side to their first away win of the season with the 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in midweek.
It’s back to Goodison Park this evening as Everton host Swansea City, with Allardyce hoping to continue the upturn in form with another strong performance and result.
There should be more good news coming up soon, as winger Yannick Bolasie is working his way back to fitness after more than a year out of action.
The DR Congo international, 28, suffered a serious knee injury back in December of last year, and last week played 30 minutes for Everton’s Under-23’s in a 2-1 defeat against Leicester City.
With Everton lacking pace at times this season, Bolasie’s return would be a welcome boost for manager Allardyce, and he has now discussed the situation.
Allardyce has told The Guardian that Everton are crying out for Bolasie’s pace, praising his desire to succeed having come up through the lower leagues whilst backing him to make a huge contribution
Allardyce added that he has spoken to Bolasie and can sense how desperate he is to return, but suggested that he will be rusty and must be managed properly in order to avoid a recurrence of his injury.
“The team has been crying out for what he offers,” said Allardyce. “Yannick is blessed with dynamic movements and pace that cause defenders great concern. He probably occupies two players when he’s at his best because he’s such a danger in possession. He’s a player who has come from the lower leagues and built his way up to the top level of football. I always think those players have a great desire to achieve that. In the early part they’ve had people telling them they’re not good enough but their own drive, determination and belief is so strong they go on and, in Yannick’s case, arrive at Everton football club. It’s been a fantastic journey for him and because of that there’s a great opportunity for him to stay at the top level for as long as possible. Hopefully he will make a big contribution to our team when he comes back.”
“It will be very pleasing to have him back in the squad but I will be very delicate with the introduction. At the very best it will be from the subs’ bench and the minutes he gets will have to be the right thing for him and the team as well, depending on how the game is going. We can’t expect too much. He will be a little rusty but if he does hit his level straight away that would be absolutely fantastic. He’s a big player to have back. Having spoken to Yannick I know he’s desperate to get back but we have to control that desire. It doesn’t matter how he thinks he feels, it’s about making sure we do the right process so that he’s back for a long period of time and he doesn’t injure that knee again,” he added.
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