It would have been much more than three goals shipped in the Latics net this weekend if Emmerson Boyce had not returned early from his cracked ribs and the defender's early return is a huge boost for the squad.
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Boyce return bolsters back line
By Paul Farrington
Updated Tuesday, 17th April 2007
Richard Dunne was responsible for breaking Boyce's ribs in the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Eastlands just under two months ago, and despite being ruled out for the season, Boyce returned early on Sunday.
Tipped to be in the top three of the club's player of the season award, Boyce's return will inspire confidence for the testing run-in with difficult fixtures against Liverpool, West Ham, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United still to come.
His transition to centre back has forced former Palace team-mate Fitz Hall out of the starting eleven, but Boyce has been solid at centre back for the majority of the season.
The 26 year old's pace has more than compensated for the ageing legs of Arjan De Zeeuw and Matt Jackson, depending on which has partnered him this season. And such pace will no doubt come in useful for the final four games, with strikers such as Bellamy, Zamora and Yakubu to face.
Such a timely return is testament to the character of a defender who won the Crystal Palace player of the season award last term, and it could well the early return of Boyce that is the telling difference in the fight to survive in the Premiership.
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Previously
| 17 Apr 2007 |
|---|
| Wigan's Killer Asset? |
| 16 Apr 2007 |
| Lucky break for Lee Mac |
| 11 Apr 2007 |
| Jackson confident of Survival |
| Haestad scores on return |
| Defnsive crisis |
| Fulham fire Coleman |
| 06 Apr 2007 |
| PJ: It's in our hands |
