South African coach Stuart Baxter happy with Thulani Serero's progress

Thulani Serero of South Africa celebrates his goal during 2018 World Cup Qualifiers match between South Africa and Senegal at Peter Mokab Stadium, November on the 12 November 2016 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Sunday Oct 29, 2017. 12:00

Ahead of the Burkina Faso clash next month, South African national team coach Stuart Baxter says he is happy with midfielder Thulani Serero's progress.

The midfielder has showed good signs at his club Vitesse Arnhem and the English mentor believes he is in a good shape physically.

Serero bagged the Player of the Month for August and September in the Dutch Eredivisie.

The news comes as a huge boost as the South Africans will host the Lions of Teranga and visit Dakar in their two crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

“I think he is now in better shape physically,” Baxter said.

“And hopefully he knows better how we want him to play, in different positions. If he comes to camp and shows me that, then he will be a strong candidate.

“It is nice to have that sort of player, and that is what I am trying to do. If we have Plan A, then we also need a couple of ‘what if?’ scenarios.

“A player like Serero is a pretty powerful ‘what if?’ option. I would think every player that is in Europe wants to come (to camp) to start with.

“But if I think there is a player better than them on that day and more suitable for the job, then I will play them. We don’t bring back European players to take photos and enquire about their health. It’s to do a job.”