The 31-year-old had been pushing for a return almost six months after first snapping the tendon when he suffered a major setback in his recovery earlier this year. Now, more than 13 months after his last first-team appearance, the Mali international played for the reserves last week and is hoping to reclaim a place in Tony Pulis' side soon. Sidibe told the club's website: "When I did it the second time I didn't know what was going to happen. "It is very rare to do the Achilles twice. "The operation was bigger and I was in doubt if I was going to play again. "It was really difficult but I kept working with the physio and did a lot of work to give me the confidence I could play again. "Now everything is starting to get back to normal and I am really happy." Pulis maintained faith in the forward throughout his troubles and named him in his 25-man Premier League squad for this season. The former Swansea and Gillingham forward, who has set no target date for a first-team comeback, added: "That is a very big boost. The gaffer has been great with me since I have been at the club. "I could just say 'thank you' to him but the only but the only way I can thank him is to play well when he calls me to play. "That is the only thing I can do but it is very good to be in the squad."
