BOLASIE IS BACK FROM A YEAR ON SIDELINES
HUGHES RIPS ARNAUTOVIC FOR HIS ‘SIDEWAYS’ MOVE TO THE HAMMERS
STOKE boss Mark Hughes claims former favourite Marko Arnautovic should have set his sights higher than West Ham.
YANNICK BOLASIE is poised for a first-team comeback 12 months after his career was threatened by injury.
Everton boss Sam Allardyce will pick him as a substitute for Swansea’s visit on Monday providing there was no reaction to his outing for the under-23s last night.
Bolasie snapped a cruciate ligament during a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December last year and has gone through agonising rehabilitation to make the knee strong enough to return to football.
His first competitive action in 12 months was on Monday, when he appeared as a sub in an U-23 game against Leicester.
Bolasie said: “Just the smell of grass again in the game was great. Playing again was overwhelming.
“I know what my role is because a year out in football means it will be a month or two before I’m really back at it but the main thing is that I feel OK.
“But I want to be with the boys. Right now the team is doing really well so you’re going to have to try to fight your way in but there’s no rush.”
Swansea go to Goodison bottom of the table but boss Paul Clement insists loan flop Renato Sanches could yet rescue City and is staying.
The Portugal midfielder was rumoured to be heading back to Bayern Munich having been left out of the last two match-day squads. He has not scored or provided an assist in any of his nine league appearances this term.
But Clement hopes his decision to axe Sanches will be the wake up call he needs to steer the Swans to safety.
He said: “He’s not going back. I hope the realisation of how he’s played. . he can’t expect to keep getting picked if he’s not performing. I believe he can make a contribution, but to do that he has to start playing to his potential.”