Will Coulibaly be able to make a permanent starting claim?

Mohamed Coulibaly would seem to be a bit of a crowd favourite although he has not played many games yet for the Cherries. You could see why in a moment during the second half when he whisked pass three players like they were standing still. He is another exciting player and will offer Eddie Howe a vital option at this stage of the season with so many games coming thick and fast around the Easter period. But whether Coulibaly is picked to start in a few games in a row will largely depend I think on his consistency and how well he fits in with the other players around him because he has not played much more than a a few hundred minutes with them in match situations.

Coulibaly looked in good shape against Middlesbrough.

Coulibaly during the warm up on Saturday.

Considering that I thought it was a good start he made on Saturday and he did not look below par to any the other players so his fitness is coming back and is likely to get even stronger. Whether that will put him in a place to come in for some of the other wingers will be very interesting to see. Personally, I feel that Coulibaly is a little more direct like Ryan Fraser than some of our other wingers and both have a good eye for goal.

Having seen Coulibaly have such a long period out though I would think that he is gradually going to win time in games and like Pugh and Fraser will be rested when necessary. Still it is great to see another player available for Eddie and it finally looks like the bench is full of players who are just as capable of doing a job that is as good as any of the first eleven chosen in any given week. Coulibaly's main aim for the moment must be to be in the side to face Charlton.