Marc Tierney Closing in on Return

Bolton Wanderers and manager Dougie Freedman will have been boosted today by news, as reported in the BEN, that left-back Marc Tierney is ahead of schedule in his efforts to return from a broken ankle suffered in September.

The former Norwich City defender was a new signing this summer, and his absence has been keenly felt. The likes of Alex Baptiste and Tim Ream have covered manfully, but there's nothing like having a specialist available in what is a crucial position in the side.

Speaking to the BEN, Freedman said:

"Marc is out there running with us and he might be back playing by the end of the month,

Wanderers have found it hard to attract a left-back to the club despite the best efforts of the management team. West Brom's Macedonian fullback Goran Popov had a move collapse at the final hurdle in January, whilst Ream has sometimes struggled to match his form earlier in the season.

Freedman also revealed that Joe Riley is on track to return to the first team squad before the end of the season. Riley broke his foot almost a year ago, and upon his return from that injury promptly damaged knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly.

"Joe seems to be running at the same sort of speed and intensity - so he's definitely got a chance of playing before the end of the season as well,

"It has been a massive shame for the lad but I'm starting to see in Joe a young man who's dedicated to his profession.

"I'm making sure his rehabilitation is spot on and hopefully that means when he gets back this time, we can really see what he has got to offer."

Not sure what he means by 'starting' to see.....but then again Dougie does say some strange things.