Yannick Bolasie | I hope my experience and versatility can be an asset to Swansea City
Yannick Bolasie hopes his experience and versatility mean he can be an asset on and off the pitch for Swansea City, after signing a short-term contract with the club.
The 34-year-old will wear the number 17 shirt for the Swans and will bolster head coach Michael Duff’s forward options.
Bolasie will be in contention for Wednesday’s trip to Leeds, subject to EFL and international clearance.
Having played for the likes of Crystal Palace and Everton in the top-flight, and racked up over 100 Championship appearances, the DR Congo international hopes his knowledge can help what remains a youthful squad, and is keen to contribute on the pitch.
“I’d like to think I can add something to the group on and off the pitch,” he said.
“I’ve played in different countries and different leagues, and I am here to help the team and play to the best of my ability.
“I would like to think I will bring something on the pitch with the way I play.
“Over the years I’ve always played in different positions, as a number nine, a seven or 11, and sometimes even behind the striker.
“I’ve got a wealth of experience now, I've adapted to play those types of roles and I'd like to think I can come and do that here.
“I think that might be one of the reasons the club brought me here, because I can play all three positions.”
Bolasie joins the Swans having most recently been with Turkish club Caykur Rizespor, who he helped secure promotion back to the top-flight following relegation.
The attacker will look to build up his match fitness as quick as he can, but feels in good shape after putting in hard work while training by himself prior to his move to SA1.
“I’m going to go game by game. I’d like to think I can come in flying, but at the same time I need a bit of match fitness,” he said.
“But I'm not worried about that, I’ve been working hard over the last six months, and I’d like to think that a couple of games in, just being back in a stadium and being in front of a crowd, I think I'd get used to it very fast.
“To be fair, I’ve had some really good performances at the Swansea.com Stadium, and now I’m putting on the Swansea shirt, I’d like to think I can do the same again.
“I’m looking forward to that, I think there’s been some good performances and that tells me that it’s a good stadium for me, I hope that will be the case now.”