Phil SumblerThe Swans take on Southampton in the FA Cup at the Swansea.com stadium later on today with both managers knowing that it is makeshift sides that they will send out for the game following injuries and Covid absences within both squads in the build up.
You also wonder whether if this was a league tie whether either side would be trying to get the game called off but such is the desire to avoid further fixture congestion this will be one of many ties this weekend that will see severely weakened sides competing in the competition as the FA Cup celebrates its 150th anniversary.
“The squad is a bit fuller, we are still missing a couple who tested positive earlier this week,” said Swans boss Russell Martin.
“Over the last couple of days we have had no positive tests which is good news. We are not at a full quota with everyone training, but we are in a much better place and can put a strong team out.
“We will have a couple of young guys on the bench and the team will look different as some guys are not able to be involved because of the protocols involved in returning to training.
“But we will have a strong team, it will be the strongest team we can put out and it also gives opportunity to some players who have not had that opportunity too much recently.
“We hope they will make the most of that opportunity. We are looking forward to it, it is what it is and we have done as much work as we can with the guys we have available and we want to put out a good performance.”
Southampton have similar challenges with their own injuries and suspensions as confirmed by their manager Ralph Hasenhüttl at his press conference ahead of the game
“We have Tino Livramento and Will Smallbone, two players still out with injury,” he said.
“We have Kyle Walker-Peters with a new Covid case, Thierry Small and Ché Adams to make it three Covid cases.
“Against Tottenham we had five but we still played and we are hoping to not get more cases but you never know, but at the moment we are without these players.
“And Sali suspension for the weekend.”
The game at the Swansea.com stadium kicks off at 5.30pm and is live on BBC One Wales.
