Yannick Bolasie ready to graft for Aston Villa promotion
Villa new-boy Yannick Bolasie is ready to embrace the challenge of being a ‘marked man’ in the Championship.
The 29-year-old winger has joined on a season-long loan from Everton, just over two years after being signed by the Toffees for £25million from Crystal Palace.
Bolasie’s time at Goodison Park was blighted by injury, but he is now eager to kick-start his career at Villa Park – in a division where he is now among the most high-profile players.
“This is an ideal situation for me. I am ready to take it,” he said. “I’m a hard worker. I am ready to graft. I know coming down into the Championship is going to be tough.
“You are playing against players who are always improving, some really good teams.
“I also know the status you have as a player coming down from the Premier League. Everyone is going to up their game against me. I look forward to that challenge.”
Bolasie was in the Crystal Palace team that won promotion from the Championship through the play-offs in 2013.
He believes getting back to the Premier League has become an even tougher task.
“It’s probably tougher now, the Championship, because of the level of teams coming down from the Premier League,” he said.
“Getting up from this division isn’t easy. We will have to take it game by game.
“But I’m relishing this challenge. I don’t think anyone can understand my feelings toward this - coming here, fighting for the shirt, helping the team.”
Bolasie is unlikely to feature in tonight’s Carabao Cup second round tie at Burton, as he continued to build match fitness.
Villa boss Steve Bruce is expected to make wholesale changes for the trip to the Pirelli Stadium, with a number of fringe players handed the chance to impress.
