'We can survive'

9th April
First team

Leroy Fer is backing his Swansea City team-mates to win their Premier League survival fight as he battles back from serious injury.

Fer is eyeing a return to action next season having ruptured his Achilles at Leicester in early February.

While he is unable to contribute on the pitch right now, the popular midfielder is hoping his personality can lift his team-mates during the relegation run-in.

And following a dramatic upturn in fortunes since Carlos Carvalhal was appointed at the end of December, Fer is confident the Swans will finish outside the top flight’s bottom three.

“I want to help the team of course,” Fer said.

“Unfortunately I can’t do that by playing right now, but I think with my spirit I can try to help a little bit by being positive in the dressing room.

“We have good players here. If we keep doing what we have been doing, hopefully we can stay up.

“I think you can see how good we can be. The players are fighting for each other, like at Huddersfield with 10 men for example. We have to keep doing that until the end of the season.”

Fer’s injury is similar to the problem Nathan Dyer picked up last season. The winger’s return eight months later gives an idea of how long Fer will be out of action for.

But as he works in the gym while his team-mates step out on to the training field, Fer is remaining upbeat.

“I’m getting better every week,” he said.

“In two weeks I can finally walk without the (protective) boot so that’s good.

“I am looking forward. I am focusing on next season, trying to get as strong as possible and trying not to rush it.”