Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic has revealed that Wayne Sandilands has returned to the starting eleven at the club ‘on merit’ after recovering from the early season blunder against Highlands Park.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns keeper was in goal for the Soweto giants first game of the season against the Lions of the North. He conceded a costly howler, however, and was removed from the side after a backlash from the fans.

The 35-year-old made his return to the starting eleven in a Caf Champions League game against Esperance at the beginning of February, and has gone on to play five games in a row, keeping one clean sheet and conceding five times.

Speaking after the 4-1 win over AmaZulu, Pirates coach Sredojevic revealed that Sandilands has worked his way back into the starting eleven after performing well, both in training and for the club’s MDC [MultiChoice Diski Challenge] side.

‘Looking at Sandilands, there’ve been many questions. But we are having a present situation that in backing all our four goalkeepers, he’s the first in line. We have, purely on merit, taken him back into starting lineup,’ said Sredojevic.

‘Yes, it was risky [to restore Sandilands to the team] . I remember how many questions came before the derby regarding putting him in such a match.

‘However, he proved that he had also gone the bridge of MDC, where it was like a rehabilitation process. In training he has been wonderful since that Highlands Park blunder,’ he concluded.