Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a major defensive boost after Willy Boly made his first appearance of the new season for Ivory Coast on Monday night.
The 30-year-old has struggled to stay fit in recent months and missed the start of the 2021-22 Premier League season after suffering a hamstring injury in a pre-season clash with Real Betis.
Boly was ruled out of his side's opening defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, although he was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench against Manchester United.
Now, the defender appears to be edging closer to full fitness after playing 69 minutes for the Ivory Coast in Monday's CAF World Cup 2022 qualifying clash with Cameroon before being replaced by Lyon's Sinaly Diomande.
A brace from Sebastien Haller saw Ivory Coast claim a 2-1 win on the day, and there is now optimism that Boly will be able to line up for Wolves against Watford on Saturday.
Boly missed 12 games in the 2020-21 season through injury and illness - although he still managed 21 starts in the Premier League - and his return leaves Jonny and Pedro Neto in the Molineux treatment room.
Ben Knapton
