Bodde Ready To Play Says Sousa

Paulo Sousa has told BBC Sport that Ferrie Bodde is ready to play in League games, after recovering from a long-term knee injury.

The Dutchman has hardly kicked a ball since suffering a serious ligament injury in November 2008 but he looks set to hand us a massive boost by returning before the end of the season.

The 27 year-old came back to League action in late August, but he picked up another injury and has been sidelined ever since.

So with his last recovery spell and return not going to plan, Bodde isn't in a rush to come back into the first team. The highly rated midfielder, one of the most skilled within Sousa's squad, believes he is around 2 weeks away from returning, but the Swansea City manager says he's ready to play now.

'He is ready to play, he is training with us every day,'

'Like at the rest of the squad and he can be in the first 11, but we will see what happens.

'We will think what is the best strategy [for Derby] and choose the best players to start the game against them.'

Sousa hints that it's a possibility that he could travel to Derby and be included in the 18-man squad, but that seems highly unlikely.

Bodde played his first game for the Reserves on Tuesday, and scored our first goal to give us a 2-1 victory against Bristol City.

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