Potentially one of the most exciting transfers of the summer window in terms of potential, Sofiane Boufal’s move to Southampton is finally bearing its fruits.
Scoring an impressive goal in the EFL Cup in his only start so far, the young Moroccan winger is slowly enjoying more game time under Claude Puel following his bad knee injury, suffered towards the end of last season.
Called back to the Morocco international team by Hervé Renard, the Southampton starlet is likely to make an appearance in the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast, according to his national team manager.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, relayed by Le Matin, the former Lille manager explained that despite training to one side, Boufal was ready physically.
He said: “The question is to know whether to use him from the off, or bring him on as a sub. When you put someone on the bench, it’s not necessarily because he’s not ready or capable, but because there’s a strategy to adopt.
“Sometimes, subs make a difference, especially in the last half hour. He did a few exercises yesterday, by himself, to strengthen his knee. It was extra work, and not him training away from the group.”
The 22-year-old forward, who has made five appearances for Southampton so far, was one of the reasons behind Lille’s good season last year, scoring 11 goals in 29 league appearances, as well as picking up four assists.
