The Malian came off off the bench for the final 13 minutes against Leicester to make for his first Albion appearance since the 5th October, and Potter is backing the midfielder to make an impact this season.
He said, “He’s going to contribute I’m sure of that, and we haven’t really got another player like him. He’s a bit different to everybody else. We have to find the right circumstances for him, and in fairness, Dale [Stephens], Davy [Propper] and the guys have been doing quite well, so he’s had to be patient.
“He missed all of pre-season because of his injury, so we’ve had to build him up in terms of minutes and gain an understanding of what he can do to help the team. He’s got quality, and I’m sure he’s going to help the team.
“We’ve got a lot of games coming up and it’s important that everybody gets an opportunity, and they’ll certainly get it over the next few weeks.”
The Albion head coach also spoke about the threat which Jamie Vardy posed on Saturday, as the former England international found the net at the Amex from the penalty spot.
“He gives them a threat in behind. If you make a mistake in possession, then you know he’s only one pass away from threatening the goal.
“He’s not just quick, he’s also aggressive and intelligent with his movement. And then if you drop too deep, you can become a little bit passive and their quality can hurt you. They’re second in the table for a reason, and you can see why.”
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Attention turned towards Albion’s next game against Liverpool this coming Saturday, and Potter says the game plan doesn’t change, regardless of the opposition.
“It’s a tough period for us and we’ll learn from what we’ve already done this season.
“We’re playing against another good side and we’ll do what we normally do and do our homework. We’ll have a plan to try and win the game.”