Planet Swans ArchivesRoberto Martinez is confident that Warren Feeney can do a job and stand in today for Darryl Duffy as the Irishman prepares for his first start in Swansea colours.
Less than a month after his move from Cardiff on a three month loan, Feeney is in line to make his first start because of the injury that will sideline Duffy for three games.
And with the Swans looking to return to winning ways after last week’s reverse at Leeds, Roberto is confident that Feeney will step up to the occasion “We have got a few options but Warren Feeney has been here for a while and he knows the place inside out
“It shows you our strength when we have someone like that ready to step in.
“He has the kind of attitude that we want in our players. He has that desire and hunger to be on the pitch and I’m very pleased with everything Warren has done since the first day he came here.
“He has been dying for a chance since he arrived. You can understand that because he is an international player with a lot of hunger.
“I think he is more than a finisher as well. All strikers want goals but he can hold up the ball, run the channels and he has a huge work rate.
“Injuries are part of the season but we always said that we needed a big squad it sounds like a cliche but you get through a lot of injuries and you need to cope with them.
“At the moment we are in a situation where we are disappointed to lose some players. But there is now a great opportunity for the others who have been waiting and working hard behind the scenes.
“It’s a huge opportunity for them and I believe they are ready to come in.”
Duffy’s injury came after a stuttering start to his Swansea career – he has netted just once in the opening weeks of the season after grabbing 5 in 5 during a loan spell last season.
“He blocked a ball in the Leeds game and his groin suffered a small tear,” Martinez explained. “He’s not going to be long but obviously he won’t be available for today or Tuesday.”
Martinez was not too worried at the reverse at Leeds last weekend, citing the two previous league victories prior to that game and stating that 6 from 9 is a return that was good enough for the requirements
“We had set our targets for what was a special week,” he said. “In eight days we had to play a strong Carlisle side, go to a difficult Cheltenham ground and then we had the glamour game against Leeds.
“They were probably the three most different scenarios you could face in League One and it was a great example for the players of what we will be facing this season.
“It showed them the way in which we will need to adapt our football at times. In that respect I was very pleased because the response was fantastic and it was a good lesson for us all.
“The spirit has been fantastic this week. Now we are looking forward to Saturday, then Tuesday and another two or three weeks of congested fixtures
“Every day that goes by the team gets stronger as they get to know each other better. You can see partnerships and little bits of chemistry on the pitch now and I think that’s fantastic.
