Saturday 30 January 2016 19:52, UK
Steve Evans described Souleymane Doukara as having "a heart the size of Big Ben" as his French midfielder clocked in with his latest goal in Leeds' 2-1 FA Cup win at Bolton.
Doukara's fourth goal in five games set United on the way to the last 16 and further justified Evans' decision to throw the former Catania midfielder a career lifeline.
Toumani Diagouraga's first goal since March 2013 doubled Leeds' first-half advantage only for Wanderers skipper Darren Pratley to put the tie in doubt with an 80th-minute reply.
"If we had signed this kid from the Premier League for four or five million and he had played the way he has in the last five or six weeks, people would be saying 'what a steal,"' said Evans of Doukara.
"When I arrived he felt discarded, didn't feel loved. And that's harsh. I told him he was going to get the biggest opportunity of his life and he is enjoying every minute of it.
"He is going to get fitter and sharper and I don't think there will be many teams who will look forward to playing against the big fella.
"His power and purpose all afternoon was great. He has got a heart the size of Big Ben and I am pleased he is getting these rewards.
"His heart was was crying when I arrived and now is heart his blessed. And I am blessed to work with these players."
Evans also spoke glowingly of Doukara's fellow midfielder, Lewis Cook, saying: "Everyone who came to this ground saw just why half of the Premier League want to sign that kid for multi-millions.
"And he got superb backing from Diagouraga and Liam Bridcutt. I thought our performance was outstanding for 81 or 82 minutes.
"When you play as well as we did in the first half, the only concern you have as a head coach going down the tunnel at half-time is 'this should be done. It should be four or five'. That would have been justice to the performance."
Bolton boss Neil Lennon admitted:"We were way too passive in the first half. It was a goalkeeping error for the first goal but our reaction wasn't good after that and I am looking at our senior players.
"It was a good opportunity for us; a great cup tie, a good atmosphere.
"But you can't give teams 2-0 leads and expect to go through. We nearly resurrected but we didn't work hard enough in the first half.
"It's desire. It's got to come from within. I am asking the players 'do you want to progress in football or do you (just) want to make a living in the game?'.
"And if it is making a living then it is probably better off going playing somewhere else because it is not what I want."
Lennon confirmed defender Prince is looking to complete a move to an unnamed Turkish side.
