Many fans have been left wondering - what is actually going on with Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure?
The duo were signed to much fanfare in the summer, for a combined fee of near £80million - but, as we sit here, they’re seen a combined total of just 15 minutes in the Premier League. Bamba got 14 of those on the opening day v Liverpool and hasn’t been seen since, while Toure played one minute at Tottenham Hotspur and got another half in the Carabao Cup win over West Brom.
It has got fans talking about the pair, especially given the outlay, and opportunity missed to hand them minutes down at Millwall in the round four victory.
But Jaissle insists, it seems, that things aren’t that deep. He has not frozen them out, as such - that terms seems a bit harsh - more taken them out of the firing line to protect, given their age. Both are just 20 years of age.
“Bazou, it’s really clear, he’s a young lad, came as a new signing and he’s doing a great job. You see the steps now in training, he’s really committed,” said Jaissle.
“It’s sometimes in football that if you have other players performing as well on a really high level, like Harvey (Barnes) at the moment, then you’re getting a little bit less playing time. But we said that from the beginning, especially for the young lads and the new signings that we give them time.”
The situation with former Monaco midfielder Bamba is also a relaxed one, says Jaissle.
“It’s the same with AB for instance,” he added. “We’re not pushing, especially not externally, pushing them in getting more minutes. It’s normal progress and we’re supporting them to getting there.”
So, it seems, patience may be needed with the two NUFC summer arrivals. It’s a good job a whole host of others have hit the ground running, then.
Nico Gonzalez, seemingly, buying Bamba time to adapt, while Anthony Elanga returning from a season-long slumber has also allowed Ivorian Toure some breathing space.