Yannick Bolasie may make his first Premier League appearance in 12 months on Monday as the Everton forward steps up his recovery from a knee injury.
The Democratic Republic of Congo player has been sidelined since rupturing a cruciate ligament against Manchester United in December last year. He made his comeback for the under-23s against Leicester City on Monday and featured for the first half again on Friday, when Everton drew 0-0 with Dinamo Zagreb in the Premier League International Cup.
James McCarthy also made his return and played for the opening 45 minutes. Providing there is no adverse reaction to the run-out at Southport, Bolasie will be considered for Swansea’s visit. Sam Allardyce, the Everton manager, said: “We will see what happens with that and we may, depending on the whole team here, have a discussion as to whether that makes him available against Swansea.”
Bolasie cost Everton an initial £25m when he signed from Crystal Palace in August 2016 and made 15 appearances in all competitions before being injured. Speaking after the Leicester match, the forward said: “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 I feel OK. Just the smell of grass again was great.”
Allardyce is confident his longstanding relationship with Steve Walsh will give clarity to Everton’s transfer business. The director of football and the former manager Ronald Koeman were not always united over targets but Allardyce, who has known Walsh since the latter was a scout for Chelsea and who also employed him at Newcastle United, believes they will have a more fruitful working relationship.
“I am not going to comment on what Ronald did or didn’t do,” he said. “Steve and I have known each other for a huge amount time and I have every faith in the process. Recruitment will be the most critical part of building success. This is the most difficult part because of the lack of top-quality players not just in this country but worldwide, and the price.”