Scotland's Welsh avoids serious knee injury

Published1 hour ago

Swansea City have received a major fitness boost after influential centre-back Stephen Welsh was cleared of serious injury.

Swansea feared the Scotland international had suffered knee ligament damage following a challenge from Ebou Adams during Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

But scans have revealed Welsh has no significant problem, meaning he may even be able to play some part at Birmingham City on Saturday.

There is more positive news from the treatment room going into the weekend, with wingers Moussa Yeo and Eom Jisung fit to return against Chris Davies' in-form Blues side.

However, midfielder Stephen Eustaquio will again be absent due to a groin problem and Melker Widell is out with a minor hamstring injury which meant he was withdrawn at half-time at Fratton Park.

"Welshy's scan is clear. It's just really a bad knock so there's nothing major," said Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.

"We will still assess if he will be available for Saturday, but it's not a bad injury. It's just a knock that is really, really painful."

Matos says a decision is yet to be taken on whether Welsh, 26, will join up with Scotland in the international break which follows the Birmingham game.

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Eustaquio, who came off injured during last weekend's win over Blackburn, has been withdrawn from Canada duty, with Swansea hoping the former Porto player may be fit for their game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 21 November.

Widell is expected back for the Baggies' visit, while Yeo returns this weekend having missed Swansea's past three matches with a hamstring issue and Eom is back in contention after a knock suffered against Blackburn last weekend.

Matos revealed Ben Cabango did not train in the lead-up to Portsmouth because of a fitness issue, hence he was on the bench before coming on to replace Welsh, but Swansea's captain is available for Birmingham.

"In this moment unfortunately we are having a few knocks and that creates a little bit of instability regarding the starting XI and the availability of players," Matos added.

"You need to learn how to deal with the situations and that's it. It's hard to manage, but we will find a way of course."

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