Swans head coach, Luke Williams has some concerns with injuries, especially with a man he calls the machine. With Middlesbrough away coming up, and the squad leaving on Friday for the opening game of the season it’s already a concern for Swansea City.
As expected Joe Allen is unlikely to make the game after struggling to get fit from an injury picked up four weeks ago. His rehabilitation is going to take a few more weeks. His contribution to the team when fit is well known, but to start the season injured is concerning. Rumours of Andy Fisher being surplus to requirements at Swansea (and they were only rumours) and the possibility of him moving on seem to have been scuppered if there was any validity in them at all. Williams has clarified the situation and it doesn’t look good in the immediate term. "Andrew Fisher is a shame because he picked this up on the tour and nothing could be done about that. He’s kicked the ball in a strange way and he felt a pain. We now know it’s going to be more extensive than that”
Any interest in Lee Nicholls the Huddersfield keeper seems very un Swans like, having just signed Lawrence Vigouroux, Luke already has keeper back up, so a move for another stopper just doesn’t feel right. More injury concerns surround Ronald who is slowly recovering from his injury picked up in Austria. Luke has clarified that situation. "Ronald (below) is going to be very close, we are having to reign him in a little bit, he’s a machine, he wants to go, we have to make sure he comes back good and ready because he's a very important player for us”
It seemed an odd response when the head coach was asked about Josh Ginnelly. "From when I joined the club, I’ve not seen him kick a ball in anger, but he’s continuing to progress well with the medical team” That should tell anyone hopeful of a return for Josh this side of mid September as unlikely. If he hasn’t been training with the ball at all at full tilt (to be able to kick a ball in anger) then there’s still a long way to go. Plus his physical fitness and strength building to enable confidence when he returns to action is generally considered to take six weeks.
He looked so good at the start of last season.
From what Swans fans have seen of Ruben Providence they seem keen on some form of deal for the Frenchman. On that point Luke explained, "We have a week of training building up to the first league game and I think he's not going to be player without options” The noises around this player seem very positive, and it will only be contractual issues not salary that will stop Ruben joining the Swans. Luke seems to be seeing on the side of positivity with this player.
There’s a few that will be out come Saturday, Ronald the obvious concern. Of course the Swans don’t want to rush him, but he is a machine after all, and we can only hope he passes his MOT this week. He is a real danger to any Championship team, and it sounds like he is raring to go.
Swansea City take on Middlesbrough this Saturday with a scheduled 12.30pm kick off. The game is LIVE on Sky.