Double boost ahead of Boro

20th September
First team

Swansea City have received a double injury boost after Jay Fulton and Tom Carroll were passed fit for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough.

Fulton missed the defeat at Stoke in midweek after a nasty clash of heads forced him off at half-time in last Saturday’s goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.

And Carroll has been absent from the Swans’ last two matches having picked up a hip injury in training.

But the duo are back in the fold for the Boro game, and that is a big plus given that fellow midfielders Leroy Fer (groin) and Bersant Celina (ankle) are again likely to miss out.

“Tom has made really good progress,” said boss Graham Potter.

“He is involved for the weekend and it’s the same with Jay Fulton.

“Bersant is responding well but probably this game will be a bit too soon. It’s the same with Leroy – we are probably looking towards the QPR game (a week on Saturday) for both of them.”

Potter was forced to use right-back Kyle Naughton alongside Matt Grimes in a two-man midfield at Stoke in midweek.

The duo performed well at the bet365 Stadium, but Potter is pleased to have some more options at his disposal.

“As a manager it’s good to have as many players as possible to select from,” he added.

“It becomes a bit more difficult to pick the team and the squad because all of a sudden you are leaving players out.

“But I am really happy with the group I have. The challenge for us now is how we can improve and be better.”

Courtney Baker-Richardson is suspended for the Middlesbrough game, while Jefferson Montero and Wilfried Bony remain sidelined through injury.

Potter revealed that Bony has picked up a minor hamstring problem but is making headway in his bid to return from a cruciate ligament injury.

“Wilf’s had a slight setback with a little strain in his hamstring, but it’s not too bad,” he said.

“It’s put him back a few days, but he is looking good and working hard and hopefully in a few weeks he can join the group.”