Lee Chung-yong

By Jung Min-ho

Lee Chung-yong is likely to return to first-team training next week as he recovers from a double leg fracture.

"Chungy is making significant progress. He continues to train well on the medical side and we're hoping that he'll be able to train with the reserves on Friday and Saturday,” Bolton Wanderers’ manager Owen Coyle said on the club’s website. “If he comes through that without any reaction then hopefully he can join the first team next week and step-up his training from there.”

The 23-year-old Korean winger became a pivotal player soon after he made his first appearance for the team on July 29, 2009, winning three awards in his first season including Bolton’s player of the year. However, he broke his leg during a pre-season friendly against Newport County last summer and is only now getting close to a return.

Unfortunately, Stuart Holden, another key player, has also been absent long-term following a knee operation in September. With the two major losses to the squad, the Trotters have struggled this season, finding themselves in the bottom three for most of the campaign.

Although Bolton urgently need Lee as the club is on the verge of being relegated from the Premier League, there is more concern about the player’s fitness for next season, indicating the team’s high expectations for him.

"We'd love to have him involved before the end of the season, but we've got to be careful not to do anything detrimental to his long-term future,” Coyle said. “But, he's continued to work hard and has done well to get to the level he is at now. There's no about it, he's going to be a very special player.”

As of Friday, Bolton were in 18th place, one point ahead of Blackburn Rovers and six clear of Wolverhampton Wanderers. They face Swansea at the Reebok Stadium Saturday.