Everton: Yannick Bolasie aiming to return before end of 2017

Winger Yannick Bolasie is hoping to return to action for Everton by December, while also taking his game to another level.

After Yannick Bolasie signed for Everton last August, he made an instant impression with fans. Despite the pressure of a reported £25 million transfer fee, he settled in quickly, scoring once and adding four assists in 13 Premier League games.

Unfortunately for Bolasie, the 13th appearance turned out to be unlucky, as he went down with a cruciate knee ligament injury against Manchester United. The injury was so serious, he was ruled out for up to 12 months.

However, one thing you have to say for the 28-year old is he has a fantastic attitude. Back in April, he appeared on Soccer AM and said he would be back before the end of 2017.

Fast forward to today, and nothing has happened to alter Bolasie’s mindset. He has spent time travelling to places such as Miami and Dubai, in an attempt to speed up his rehab.

Combined with his work ethic, it is no wonder the Democratic Republic of the Congo international is so convinced he will be back before the end of the year. Speaking to evertonfc.com earlier this week, he said:

"“(Going away) has helped me massively. It’s taken my mind off not being able to play. I don’t know the ins and outs of exactly what is happening and sometimes you want to be like that – to be able to just completely switch off. When I’ve come back, I’ve felt really refreshed.”"

To get a further idea of how positive Bolasie is, he says the injury may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. He believes the long layoff will improve his game, while also giving him the composure he has been looking for.

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Of course, there are no guarantees in the world of professional football, so there is no way of knowing at this stage how things will pan out for the winger. Regardless, his attitude is to be commended – if he can rub off on the other players, it could do the team a world of good.

Perhaps the only really concern at this stage, is the possibility Bolasie is trying to come back too quickly. Yes, his eagerness is encouraging, but you would hate to see him attempt to rush back and potentially suffer a setback in his recovery.

For now though, at least things seem to be progressing in the right direction for the Lyon, France native. Just know that he is excited about what the future holds for him, as he told evertonfc.com:

"“I have come a long, long way (in my career) and I still feel like I have got a lot to show. I’m looking forward to the challenge. Obviously, getting over this injury is a challenge in itself but once I do it, I’ll be back happy and ready to go again.”"

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Are you encouraged about Bolasie potentially returning before the end of the year, or would you prefer he takes his time and makes sure he’s fully fit before getting back to action? Further, whenever he does return, what kind of production are you predicting for him? Share your thoughts in the comments section.