|
The duo both suffered cruciate knee ligament damage earlier on in the season which effectively ruled them out until the next campaign, however with the help of top USA-based surgeon Dr Richard Steadman and the Bolton medical team it now seems that the players are able to stake some claim at reserve team level which could even mean an inclusion in the first team before the end of the season.
Gardner in particular has done very well to recover from the injury which he sustained in early January against Manchester United whilst Laville is hoping to put a season of frustration behind him by making the first eleven since his injury against Middlesbrough last September.
Allardyce beleives it could be as early as next week when the defenders will be able return to action and is going to ease them gradually back into competitive football again by giving them a 45-minute run out each in the reserve games which are left against Middlesbrough and Liverpool.
"Those two are very likely to play a reserve team game very soon, if not next week. Hopefully, we will be able to see how far they have progressed and how they are in a game situation. Perhaps 45 minutes will be the order of the day for them and see if they can progress to a full game. Maybe by the end of the season we might just see them back in the first team" Allardyce said