Lee close to Trotters return

Long-term injury victim Lee Chung-yong has handed Bolton a welcome boost with the news he is set to return to first-team training next week.

He's going to be a very special player, says Bolton boss

Long-term injury victim Lee Chung-yong has handed Bolton a welcome boost with the news he is set to return to first-team training next week. The 23-year-old winger has not featured for the Trotters since suffering a double fracture of his leg in a pre-season friendly in July. The South Korea international was one of the key performers for Bolton last season along with midfielder Stuart Holden, who was forced to undergo a second knee operation in September. The absence of both players has seen Owen Coyle's men struggle this campaign and they go into Saturday's clash with Swansea two points from Premier League safety. Despite the club's precarious position, the Bolton boss is keen not to rush Lee back from injury too soon. "I'm hoping tomorrow and Saturday he'll be able to train with the reserves," said Coyle. "If he comes through that without any reaction then hopefully he can join my group next week and start to step up his training from there. "We'd love to have him involved but the most important thing is, in terms of the long-term, we don't do anything detrimental. "He's worked hard to get himself to the level he is now and he's going to be a very special player."