Triple injury blow for Swans ahead of Millwall clash

Speaking ahead of the Swans EFL Championship fixture against Millwall on Saturday, Northern-Irishman Duff disclosed that Wood would require surgery on an ankle problem inflicted in the opening few minutes of the 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.  

The estimated timeframe of recovery being three months which will rule the England under-21 out until after the busy festive period of Christmas fixtures. 

There would be worse news regarding Ginnelly though whose season is now over after suffering an achilleas tendon problem minutes after winning the penalty for the Swans first goal against the Owls. 

At the time the injury looked concerning for all with former Hearts winger Ginnellly collapsing in a heap clutching his achilleas in agony with no player near him. It will be a long road now to recovery for the speedster with his manager not expecting the 26-year-old to feature again this campaign. 

Allen, meanwhile, having been left with a decision to make on a long-standing groin problem aggravated in the pre-match warm-up against Cardiff, has opted to go under the knife in a bid to be fit for the second part of the campaign.  

It has not been a great for that [injuries]. Woody’s [Nathan Wood] going to need surgery on his ankle so we are looking at three months,” said Duff. 

“Joe Allen has had surgery on his groin which has a similar timeframe and Josh Ginnelly will be out for the season. He has a total rupture of his achilleas. We didn’t think it was great at the time by the language he was using. 

“It’s not great, they are big players and long-term injuries. That is why we have the squad though and why we brought so many in over the summer.” 

Duff, however, did provide brighter news with news that defender Kyle Naughton and midfielder Liam Walsh have trained this week ahead of the fixture with the Lions. 

“Kyle Naughton and Liam Walsh are back involved with the group so they’re the positives after the negatives. Football being football, means it is an opportunity for someone else to come in and grab the opportunity,” continued Duff. 

“Jamal [Lowe] can play there. He can play across the front three. We don’t have an out-and-out winger with Gino’s blistering pace but there aren’t many of them around. That is why we brought him here. It is finding a way and being adaptable. 

“Gino [Josh Ginnelly] we had just got up to speed and he looked a threat, the change of shape helped him. We could get the ball out to him and leave him one-on-one and do that little bit. 

“It is an opportunity now for someone else to come in and take the shirt. They will be treated exactly the same. It is disappointing, but that’s football.” 

Allen’s fresh injury setback carries on what has been a frustrating second spell in South-Wales for the former Welsh international. The homegrown midfielder featuring just 25 times in fifteen-months after signing on a free transfer from Stoke City in the summer of 2022.  

Duff, fully aware of the influence Allen brings on and off the pitch, feels he still has a big role to play at the club. 

“Joe will still have a role to play anyway. We can use his experience and can help him with what he wants to do in the future, whether he wants to come to this side of the fence or not to maybe get a feel for what it is like on the side of it,” explained Duff. 

“We think he is a big player. He could have conservatively treated it, but I think in the back of his mind it could have been four or five weeks and then it goes again. Ultimately, he’d need the surgery and he’d rather be true to himself. 

“He knows he hasn’t been at the levels he can hit. Hopefully, this will put a full stop to that overriding, frustrating 18-months and we get him back 100% fit, fix the issues and crack on from there.” 

[Feature image: Swansea City FC]