Boro boss has hit the Yannick button NEIL BANKS ON BOLASIE TRICKS
NORWICH V MIDDLESBROUGH 12.30PM, SKY SPORTS
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Neil Warnock has told his new signing Yannick Bolasie: “Win me some games.”
The 31-year-old winger can revitalise Middlesbrough’s play-off challenge with his unbelievable tricks, according to Warnock.
Bolasie joined on loan from Everton on Thursday after spells at Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting Lisbon.
He is reunited with Warnock, who got the best out of him at Crystal Palace, and will play a part against Norwich today.
Warnock wants to draw a line under a week from “hell” during which Boro lost twice at home.
He said: “He is one of those players who makes me happy when I see him in the morning. He always has a smile on his face. I gave him an opportunity at Palace and it is nice that he wants to come back and help me out.
“I expect him to win me games. Simple as that. He wants to please everyone. He has some tricks I can’t believe, but I want him to use them at the right time. He is a good lad. It is nice to have a new face.
“I am pleased to get him. He was my target from day one. There was a mix-up last time in the summer and both parties were guilty for it going wrong. Once he decided to stay in England he was going to come with me. He can play anywhere. But he isn’t a good centre-half.”
Asked how the deal went through after being dead last week, Warnock said: “I blanked him! That is why. I heard he was going to Turkey.
“He doesn’t want to go to Turkey. He can go there in a couple of years. It was fate.”
Boro are waiting to see if Dael Fry’s terrible eye injury, suffered against Blackburn last weekend, heals in time.
Warnock said: “We’ve had a week from hell. We had two disappointing results, and are not expected to get anything at Norwich so let’s see what we can do. I want us to give a good account and be positive. Our season starts now.We have to enjoy it.”
Boro are also in for Darnell Fisher, the Preston right-back.
Despite Norwich being six points clear at the top, boss Daniel Farke is taking nothing for granted. He said: “We have to keep going. The Championship is about consistency, and there are plenty of games to go.”
Norwich are boosted by the return of 11-goal top scorer Teemu Pukki after a three-game absence due to a side strain.