Rob Davies
Russell Martin says that Michael Obafemi needs to earn the trust back from his team-mates, his group of staff and the club after being unavailable for the past two fixtures.
The Swansea manager was speaking ahead of the home game against Hull City and spoke at length about the situation with Obafemi, confirming that his relationship with the player was good.
His comments came in the aftermath of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny hinting that there was more than just the one side to the situation with Obafemi – something that Martin felt was disappointing.
According to the Swans coach the Irish international – who has been called up for the games against Armenia and Scotland this month – is in contention to make his return tomorrow against Hull City. It would be a welcome return not least from a squad perspective with the only other recognised striker other than Joel Piroe – Liam Cullen – unavailable due to injury until after the international break at least.
Martin said: “We’ll have everyone fit and available for tomorrow (except the injury absentees Latibeaudiere and Cullen).
“There might be one or two changes to the squad.
“He (Obafemi) has been out of the squad for the last two games. He has a chance to be involved tomorrow at some point maybe like everyone else.
“We’ll make the decision this morning.
“I get why we talk about him a bit more… he’ll be back in the team when he’s earned the right to be back in the team. And he’ll be back in the squad when he’s earned the right to be back in the squad.
On getting in the Ireland squad: “Hopefully he’ll get some minutes on the pitch and it’ll help him physically and mentally. Sometimes going away on international duty, it can give you a break from the norm.
“Going out of that routine and representing your country can give you a little bit of energy if it goes well.
“There’s no personal problem with Michael, we get on brilliantly. He just needs to earn the trust back from his teammates and from us as a group of staff and the rest of the club and supporters. The trust that everyone has shown in him for a very long time.
“It really is that simple. There is no three sides to the story. I spoke to Stephen before he called him up so I’m a bit disappointed with those comments.
“It is what it is. There is no agenda. He goes away with Ireland, we hope he does brilliantly and we hope he does brilliantly for us when he comes back.
On the door being closed for Obafemi: “Never. It’s never personal. All we ever do is try and help the players as much as we possibly can. Be the best version of themselves they can and that’s not just on the pitch.
“It can’t be ‘you played brilliantly but you can do what you want off the pitch’ it’s just not the culture here. It’s about turning up everyday and your teammates knowing what they’re going to get from here. It was the same with Pato (Jamie Paterson) at that point.
“He wasn’t quite right to give us what he needed to every single day, so we rode through it together. the team, the players and he had to come back and earn a bit of trust. And he did, he did it brilliantly.
“The way everyone handled the situation was the only way it was possible for Pato to come back. And it’s the same with Michael, here. He’s training with the team, he’s involved.
“Sometimes you need to go the extra yard to really regain something that’s gone a little bit, if that makes sense.”
Swansea take on Hull at 12:30 tomorrow.
