Fitness boost for Swans as Naughton gets closer to a return to action
KYLE Naughton looks to be on course to hand Swansea City a fitness boost as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.
The right-back picked up the injury against Burnley and then sat out the defeats against Hull and Bournemouth.
Naughton’s injury, allied to Angel Rangel breaking a bone in his foot against the Tigers, meant Leroy Fer had to fill in as part of the back four in the defeat to the Cherries.
Head coach Paul Clement said the former Tottenham defender Naughton had been close to being involved on the south coast, but a late decision was made for him not to travel as there was a fear aggravating the problem could end his season.
However, the 28-year-old took part in training last week as Swansea staff got preparations for Sunday’s crucial game against Middlesbrough got under way.
Clement’s squad will return to duty on Tuesday and the head coach will hope Naughton and Martin Olsson can play a full part and he can field his first-choice back four.
Olsson has been sidelined by an ankle injury he suffered in the defeat to Hull, having to play the final minutes with the problem as Swansea were out of substitutions.
The Sweden international was always thought to be a major doubt for the Bournemouth game, but Clement had seemed confident of his availability against Boro when speaking before the international break.
“We are just waiting on the two lads, we are going to give them as long as possible to prove their fitness and make a decision as close to the game as we can,” assistant coach Nigel Gibbs said last week.
“They are progressing well and we will give them every opportunity but we will not know until early next week.
“We are hopeful, we are positive that they will have a good week of training and we will see where we go from there.”