Pienaar is back in action

INJURY WOES NOW OVER

STEVEN Pienaar made a welcome return to competitive football action when he played 70 minutes for Everton’s under-21 side in their 0-0 draw with their Manchester United counterparts.

It was a first game in over two months for “Schillo ”, who has been battling with a knee injury. “It felt great being on the pitch again after hard work in the last weeks ... thanks for all your support,” he said via his Facebook.

He will now hope to step up from the development team, who are allowed to field three “over-age ” players and possibly even feature at some point in Sunday ’ s visit of Leicester City to Goodison Park.

Tokelo Rantie could also return from a recurrence of his shoulder injury when English Championship side Bournemouth, who were knocked off the top of the table in midweek, travel to Brentford on Saturday.

Dean Furman waited a long time for his first Doncaster Rovers goal this season and now has two in two as his side entered the promotion play-off positions in the English League One in midweek.

FC Twente ’ s season is fast falling apart and Kamohelo Mokotjo will hope to reverse their poor form with a home game against Vitesse on Sunday, while Thulani Serero ’ s Ajax Amsterdam are at Willem II.

With just four rounds remaining in the regular season in Belgium, a number of South African players are desperate for points to get their sides into the more lucrative championship play-offs that feature the top six sides.

Ayanda Patosi ’ s Lokeren are five points off the pace as they welcome struggling MouscronPéruwelz tomorrow, their opponents having lost their previous eight Belgian League matches in a row.

Anele Ngcongca ’ s Genk are currently in sixth and trying to keep challengers at bay. They face a tough home clash with second-placed Anderlecht on Sunday though.