Olivier Karekezi is expected to be in the starting team for his Swedish club Helsingborg IF tonight against Greek side Panionios GSS in their UEFA Cup Group H opener.

The Rwanda national team skipper told Times Sport by telephone on Tuesday night that he had got back to his best and he has been assured of a starting place by his English coach Baxter Stuart.

"Before the weekend’s league 0-4 loss to Gegle IF, I was doing fine in training and that game was away of testing my fitness.

"Though I only played the last fifteen minutes as a striker, I tried my best to impress the coach for the confidence he has in me,” the soft spoken former APR star said.

He added, "Since then, I have been doing excellent in the past four days and the coach has assured me a place on the starting team”.

Karekezi is normally played in wings or sometimes as a link up between the midfield and the front men but in his own admission, he prefers to play as a striker.

The 25-year old scored two goals in qualifiers but he has struggled to recapture his best form since recovering from a knee injury last month.

Elsewhere, FC Girondins de Bordeaux are at home against Galatasaray SK in tonight’s other group H game.

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