Fer urged to keep being physical – but fair

PAUL Clement has spoken to Leroy Fer over his disciplinary record but will not be asking the Swansea City midfielder to change his game.

The Holland international will miss the Swans Liberty Stadium assignment against Leicester after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Huddersfield.

That threshold triggers an automatic one-match ban, and means Fer will need to clean up his act if he is to avoid a further two-match suspension by reaching 10 bookings before 32 Premier League fixtures are completed.

One of Fer’s bookings came when he was involved in a half-time confrontation between a number of players during the Carabao Cup win over Reading, while his fifth booking was for a clumsy challenge on Terriers keeper Jonas Lossl.

Clement has had a word with the former Norwich and QPR man over his rapid acquisition of yellow cards, but he does not want to discourage Fer from utilising his physicality.

“He did rack them up quickly and I made that comment to him the other day,” said the Swansea head coach.

“He asked what happens next and I said ‘the next cut off will be 10 and then you’ll miss two games’.

“What I haven’t done is look back through every individual booking, but from memory there aren’t any alarm bells for me in terms of him picking up stupid yellow cards for dissent or unsporting behaviour.

“I don’t think they’re for that kind of thing and it would be a different situation if he was hurting himself or the team that way.

“I don’t want it to take away from his game. When I pick a side I try to get a balance in midfield of who can create, who can provide balance and experience and who can bring physicality.

“I don’t ever put in three players who all very similar.

“Leroy is also disappointed because he knows he’s going to miss a game and as a player you’re then thinking someone else might come in, do well, and then you’ve lost your spot for longer.

“He wouldn’t have wanted to get in that situation, but he just has to manage that now and get ready for his next chance. He helped set the tone against Huddersfield.”

The Dutchman will be back on contention for selection when the Swans host Manchester United in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.