Swindon Town Head Coach Luke Williams has provided a fitness update on his squad ahead of tomorrow’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Sheffield United at The County Ground (7.45pm Kick-Off).
The Reds have a few concerns with Yaser Kasim, Jermaine Hylton and Jordan Stewart all currently recovering from illness.
It was revealed on Saturday that Lawrence Vigouroux has been battling on with a broken thumb for the last few games, while Fankaty Dabo has resumed training after shaking off a minor hamstring injury.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference earlier today, Williams provided a full injury update, starting with Kasim, Stewart and Vigouroux.
“There are no fresh injury concerns from Saturday,” he said.
“Yaser Kasim and Jordan Stewart are both back at the club and we will have to assess their fitness now.
“They have both been ill, Yaser for a while, and we will just have to assess where they are in terms of their fitness levels.
“I should think that tomorrow will come too soon for them but we will know more clearly once they have finished with the fitness coach.
“Lawrence Vigouroux’s thumb is actually on the mend and he reported that it was a lot better today.
“He’s not done any more damage to it but it is just painful and it is obviously lacking mobility, but there was no strapping on it today and he’s had a couple more days to ice it and to try and bring the swelling down.
“He’s been playing with it but I feel now it is on the mend we can talk about it a bit more, but I don’t think it is going to be a problem from this point on.
“Having watched the game on Saturday back, there were a couple of balls that Lawrence would normally catch and hold but he doesn’t and I’m sure the thumb has got some part to play in that.
“It was more of a hairline fracture but it is has been long enough now for it to have healed and we know the bone is completely intact again and there is no ongoing problems with that.”
And Williams went on to praise the commitment of Vigouroux, who has enjoyed a stellar season for Town on a personal level.
“I think anyone who has watched the team all season will know that Lawrence has given everything he possibly can and in many games he really has helped us to keep a clean sheet or stay in-front or to stay on level terms,” he added.
“He’s made some fantastic saves and his commitment to the team is undoubted. He will try to start us playing if the circumstances allow it and he’s been outstanding.
“For him to play through this pain and through this injury shows his character.”
Finally, Fankaty Dabo could be in contention for a return tomorrow with Brad Barry suspended for the visit of The Blades to SN1, but Williams admitted that he has plenty of thinking to do when it comes to his final team selection.
“There are other options there and Fankaty is a very talented player, but I’ve got to make the right decision in terms of whether or not it is the right time to put another young player into this environment,” he continued.
“It might be time for somebody with a bit more experience. There is a lot to think about between now and my final team selection.
“I’ve got no doubt that Fankaty is going to go on to big things. He’s very much cut out for modern football and he’s got real quality and his physical attributes are as good as you could ever expect.
“It is only that experience thing and he played in a reserve game and had to come off with an injury, so it is a balancing act of whether it is the right moment to put him back in the firing line.
“He is fit so he is available for selection.
“The other issue of course is that there needs to be a reshuffling of the entire squad because of the loanee situation, but there is an option there and I need to make a final decision.”
