Swansea City face Blackburn Rovers this Saturday with the visitors receiving a triple injury boost but also suffering a fresh defensive setback. Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray confirmed that Kristi Montgomery, Yuki Ohashi and Yuri Ribeiro are all available for selection.
Montgomery and Ribeiro return after shorter absences, while striker Ohashi is back following a two-month layoff with a hamstring problem. Mowbray said it was great to have the forward available even for a potential cameo from the bench. The manager acknowledged the psychological challenge of Ohashi's recovery, having broken down just as he neared full fitness, and has given him time with family to aid his return.
Jorgensen sidelined again
In less positive news for Rovers, defender Mathias Jorgensen faces another spell out. He is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks with a quad issue. Mowbray described the situation as tough, hoping the player would be back on the grass in that timeframe. Full-back Ryoya Morishita is also ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury.
These absences come at a busy period, with Mowbray highlighting the difficulty of managing a squad with only one fit senior striker ahead of a three-game week. He said sitting with one fit striker was not ideal with so many games coming up. The manager added that while he would prefer the energy of the injured Morishita, he believes alternative option Fevrier can bring something different with his skill around the box.
Mowbray will have to manage his returning players' minutes carefully across the demanding schedule, starting with the trip to South Wales this weekend. The match is a significant one for second-placed Swansea City, who have 23 points from 12 games, having recorded seven wins, two draws and three losses. They sit just two points behind leaders Middlesbrough but have lost their last two matches, including a 5-0 defeat at QPR last time out. Their recent form over the last five games shows three wins and two defeats. A win against 11th-placed Blackburn, who have won just one of their last five league games, is important to maintain their automatic promotion push. The Swans will be looking to bounce back immediately in this next fixture to stay in touch at the top of the league table. Their top scorer this season is A. Idah with four goals in 11 appearances, and the team has scored 16 goals while conceding 13. The home game against Blackburn Rovers takes place on Saturday 31 October.
More detail at Yahoo
