Bolasie to make long-awaited return to Everton training after 11 months out

Everton are set to be boosted by the long-awaited return to training of winger Yannick Bolasie.

The DR Congo international, who has made just 15 appearances for the club since a £25million move from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2016, has not played since December 4 last year after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury which has required two operations.

However, the 28-year-old is set to rejoin his team-mates at the club's Finch Farm training complex next week, although he does not have a target for a return to competitive football.

"I haven't set a date yet for that return. I can't really say right now," Bolasie told Sky Sports News.

"I'm back in on Monday at Everton. I'm probably going to be integrated with the team then, but comeback I don't know.

"I want to make sure I'm feeling good. It's not just my name on my shirt on the pitch; I want to make sure it's me."

Bolasie's return will be welcomed by a struggling Everton team that remain without a permanent manager following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman last month.

Former England boss Sam Allardyce met Everton owner Farhad Moshiri to discuss the vacancy on Sunday but there has been no contact since.

Burnley’s Sean Dyche and Watford’s Marco Silva have also been identified as possible replacements for Koeman, who was sacked on October 23.

Caretaker David Unsworth is another contender for the full-time post.