‘Frustrated’ Bony set for return to action at Burnley
WILFRIED Bony’s injury-hit return to Swansea City has caused huge frustration for club and player, but Paul Clement remains sure the Ivorian will rediscover his best form in time.
Bony rejoined the Swans on transfer deadline day from Manchester City for a fee of £12million, and set his sights on once again getting among the goals for the Liberty Stadium outfit.
However, the move has not gone to plan as the 28-year-old has struggled to get back up to fitness having played very little over the previous two seasons with City and on loan at Stoke.
He made five goalless appearances for the Swans before suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat at West Ham at the end of September.
He has not played since with the hamstring issue being linked to a calf problem Bony has also been suffering from.
But he returned to training in the week of the defeat against Brighton, and is set to be in the selection mix against Burnley this weekend.
Clement admits it has been a challenge to try and bring Bony up to the level required given his lack of match action, and knows it is a balancing act Swansea cannot afford to get wrong as the striker prepares to make his return to first-team action.
“It is really important to have Wilfried back because he brings a lot of good energy and senior leadership to the group, which is important in difficult times,” said head coach Clement.
“He’s really frustrated. He wanted to come back here after the way he scored goals before he left and to carry that on for Swansea.
“But it didn’t happen that way because of what happened in between. There was the frustration of the initial injury and the second injury he picked up was from de-conditioning and a lack of football.
“Now we need to get it right. We don’t want to make an error and set him back again, but we want him involved as soon as possible.
“We want him out on the pitch. He hasn’t been out there anywhere near as much as we would have liked so we’ve got to get it right this time.”
Bony is one of a quintet of players set to return from injury against the Clarets, who sit seventh in the Premier League table after a fine start to the campaign.
Renato Sanches (thigh), Martin Olsson (hamstring), player-assistant coach Leon Britton (groin) and new club captain Angel Rangel (toe) are also in contention for selection.
Olsson’s return is particularly timely given his absence left Swansea without a recognised specialist leftback in their first-team squad.
Sam Clucas filled in against Arsenal and Brighton but, with Olsson fit again, Clement believes the £15million summer signing – who has had a difficult start to life in SA1 – can make an impact on the left-side of his midfield, putting him in direct competition with Tom Carroll.
“From what I’ve seen of Sam so far, and I think he did well out of position against Arsenal, I think his best position at this time is on the left side of a three-man midfield. That would be my view at the moment.
“It has not been easy, I think he is getting some confidence back.
“He did well in his first game against Crystal Palace in that position and then it was the Watford game that really derailed things where I made a tactical change at half-time to get us some more of the ball and to get more offensive.
“That meant him just dropping out for a little while, but he’s gone back in and it will be a good competition between him and Tom, with Martin fit.”