Boyata hoping for Bolton run

Dedryck Boyata is hopeful that he will be fit and firing on all cylinders in the coming weeks after making his return to the first team last weekend.

The defender had been out for over a month with an ankle problem before taking his place in the side for the defeat at White Hart Lane last weekend.

The Belgian international said: "I feel like I'm close to a full recovery. Hopefully I can play how i was before because I felt that I was close to my best.

"Obviously you feel a bit stiff when you go straight back into the team after five or six weeks without playing. I felt a bit heavy but that was natural because I hadn't got my legs going properly for a month or so."

Boyata returned to a difficult task against an in-form Spurs last weekend which was made even harder when Gary Cahill was harshly sent off in the first half. The youngster was forced to move to centre half from right back after that, but was happy to help out where needed.

"You need to be ready to adapt with those kind of things. You just have to try your best and help the team."

The man on-loan from Manchester City is looking forward to the up coming games starting with Aston Villa at the weekend and trying to climb the table.

"We have to take the game, and all the others, very seriously. We need to get some points and we need to grind out some wins."