Everton ace Yannick Bolasie could be out for a YEAR with knee injury says Toffees boss Ronald Koeman
Winger damaged his right knee against Manchester United last year in December at Goodison Park
EVERTON boss Ronald Koeman says summer signing Yannick Bolasie could be out for a year with knee injury.
The 27-year-old damaged his right knee in a challenge against Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, during their 1-1 draw in December last year.
Toffees boss Koeman said: "It will be around 11-12 months before he is back. That is a big disappointment but he will come back.";
Keep up to date with ALL the Everton news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.
Bolasie is now set to undergo a second operation in the coming week on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Everton will miss the tricky winger who has played every game for his new club since arriving from Crystal Palace in the summer.
The DR Congo international had bagged one for the Toffees before his injury after featuring 16 times for Koeman.
This tragic injury update will most likely persuade Koeman to find a replacement in January - with the Dutchman already confessing that a replacement is his top priority in the current window.
Days after Bolasie picked up the injury, Koeman said: "First of all it’s a big loss for everybody. First for the player, then for his team-mates and the whole club. He’s an important player and it’s a long-term injury.
Related stories
“He is travelling to London and will get a second opinion about the operation, which would normally be next week. For everybody it is a big disappointment.
“But it’s also an opportunity for other players who did not play a lot. We know we need competition for places and a big squad.
“It’s a big month coming up with a lot of games and we need everybody at a good level.
“We are still looking for some good options and maybe it is more necessary now than it was before because we have lost Yannick for a long time.
“I don’t speak about players or about rumours. But we know January is coming up and every day there is a lot of speculation. We need to do our work.”
