Swansea City vs West Bromwich(WBA) preview - Monk set for Swans return

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by PA

Captain Garry Monk is set for a first appearance of the season in Swansea's Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom.

The defender is likely to return from a niggling foot problem, and his availability is a welcome boost for manager Brendan Rodgers, who is faced with a defensive crisis.

Monk and Ashley Williams are the only fit centre-halves that Rodgers can call upon, with Alan Tate (broken leg) and Steven Caulker (knee) injured and deadline-day signings Darnel Situ and Rafik Halliche unable to join the club after FIFA denied them international clearance.

Midfielder Kemy Agustien (hamstring) and striker Craig Beattie (ankle) are also out. The former's absence meaning Joe Allen will keep his place in midfield, with Wayne Routledge set to return to the side after missing the defeat at Arsenal.

Wales international Williams, who has led the side in Monk's absence, is wondering what the club have done to deserve such bad luck.

He said: "They (Situ and Halliche) were brought in for back up and at times like this you need them. I don't know what went on with the deals as I was away with Wales at the time, but it means we are down to the minimum at centre-half.

"But we have to get on with it and hopefully Monks and myself can stay fit until the guys get back from injury.

"Even in training this week Neil Taylor has cut his head open, and I had tonsilitis last week so I don't know what we have done.

"If we had another injury then who knows? You'd have to ask the gaffer. I don't want to think about it too much.

"Obviously as a player you don't think about injuries, you hope it doesn't happen to you. But if Monks or myself do get injured then someone will have to fill in and we'll have to get on with it."

There are concerns that Monk is returning ahead of schedule due to the lack of options available to Rodgers, but Williams insists his long-time defensive partner is raring to go.

"He has trained and has played a few reserve games and we are pleased for him that he will get to play in the Premier League, he deserves that," he said.

"We know each other's game and he is ready. He has been doing my head in this week saying how ready he is."

Zoltan Gera will miss out for West Brom after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury.

Fellow midfielder Chris Brunt faces a late fitness test as he continues to recover from a knee injury picked up in training.

The Baggies go into the game on the back of their securing their first points of the season at Norwich last time out.