Concerns for Martin as Latibeaudiere looks set to miss trip to Sheffield
RUSSELL Martin has plenty of issues to ponder ahead of Swansea City’s Championship clash with Sheffield United.
Joel Latibeaudiere is expected to miss the game at Bramall Lane due to a calf injury, and it has thrown up a significant problem.
“He’s got a calf strain,” said Martin on the former Manchester City academy product after the 4-3 defeat to Birmingham City.
“Hopefully it’s not too serious. “He will be out of next week I would have thought.
“He’s not someone who’s had an injury since we’ve been here really. It’s a bit of a strange one.
“We’ll have to have a look at everything we’ve done.
“We’ve not done much, last week was really light to help them be ready for the same week as we always have.
“It’s another blow for us and one we’ll have to try and deal with.”
The Swans are continuing to monitor Joe Allen’s situation after he was unavailable for the loss to Birmingham City.
The clash with the Blades is also expected to come too soon for Liam Walsh, who is on the brink of returning to action following a lengthy lay-off due to a ruptured Achilles.
It leaves Martin very thin on options, particularly on the right side of defence. Indeed, it was already an area of concern for the head coach - who had been eager to add to that part of his squad in the January transfer window.
And the Swans’ lack of activity in the winter market has now already come back to bite them.
Kyle Naughton and Matty Sorinola are the obvious candidates to replace Latibeaudiere in the starting line-up on Saturday, although the latter wasn’t even in the Swans’ matchday squad against Birmingham last time out.
Lewis Webb will continue on the bench given Steven Benda’s absence while the inclusions of Joel Cotterill and Cameron Congreve in matchday squads of late typify just how threadbare the senior squad is at present.
Paul Heckingbottom has some concerns of his own to deal with before welcoming the Swans to south Yorkshire on Saturday while he also has the small matter of an FA Cup fourth round replay with Wrexham to contend with.
But, with five games to be played between February 11 and February 27, the remainder of the month will be pivotal if Swansea are to remain in the hunt for a play-off spot come the end of the season.
It’s time for certain fringe players to well and truly grasp their chance to shine with both hands.