Southampton manager Claude Puel urges fans to be patient with Sofiane Boufal as the midfielder builds his fitness after a knee injury

Daily Mail | October 25, 2016

Southampton boss Claude Puel will resist any temptation to throw record signing Sofiane Boufal into the starting line-up before he is ready.

The 23-year-old midfielder joined the club from Lille in August but has so far made only two substitute appearances as he works his way back from a knee problem.

Boufal made his debut in last week's Europa League defeat by Inter Milan and then came on for the final 20 minutes of Saints' 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Southampton manager Claude Puel has urged fans to be patient with Sofiane Boufal

Puel says Boufal will not be put into Southampton's starting line-up until he is match fit

The 23-year-old has only made two appearances after joining Southampton with a knee injury

But fans hoping the Moroccan might be fit enough for a first start in Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth-round clash with Sunderland look set to be disappointed.