“A player like me always wants to be on the pitch”: Everton 28-year-old speaks out after nightmare season
By Matt Farr
Everton attacker Yannick Bolasie insists he will come back stronger from his injury next season.
The 28-year-old moved to Goodison Park in a £25million deal last summer, but saw his debut season at the club cut abruptly short by a devastating long-term setback.
He was ruled out for up to 12 months with a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered during a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December, having made just 15 appearances for the Merseyside club.
But Bolasie has been determined not to let his injury get the better of him, and he has spent considerable time and effort to aid his rehabilitation and recovery process.
The Democratic Republic of Congo international winger still faces another six months on the sidelines, but he insists he can bring “something different” to the table when he returns to action for the first-team at the end of the year.
He told the Mirror: “If I was playing this season, I could help the team push for the top six really hard. When I came to Everton, I wanted to help the team get into Europe.
“They have done it without me, but I know what I can bring to the table and it is something different. Getting back in December would be the best Christmas present. A player like me always wants to be on the pitch.
“Strangely, I think that having this injury will give me the composure that I have been looking for. I know that will take my game to another level.”
Bolasie was brought in by manager Ronald Koeman a year ago to add more impetus and pace to the Everton attack.
He bagged one goal and four assists from his short stint in the first-team, but his long-term absence has seen the Everton boss turn to alternatives in the transfer market, where he has since moved to add youngster Ademola Lookman to his ranks.
The England Under-2o international signed for the club in January, and was immediately thrown in at the deep end with an important role on the left-hand side of Everton’s front three.
But the highly-rated young winger will face a fight to retain his place in the starting eleven when a hungry and determined Bolasie returns from injury later this year.
In other Everton news, a defender has signed for the club after agreeing terms.
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