SWANS: Moussa Yeo back for Birmingham as Stephen Welsh is cleared of serious knee injury

Moussa Yeo is back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Birmingham City. There is good news on Stephen Welsh too.

The winger has missed the last three matches with a hamstring problem picked up late last month. Vitor Matos confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Yeo has trained as normal.

Jisung Eom is also fit to return, after missing the trip to Fratton Park with a knock picked up against Blackburn.

Stephen Welsh scan clear after Fratton Park scare

Welsh has been cleared of a serious knee injury. The Swans feared the Scotland centre-back had damaged his knee ligaments after a challenge from Ebou Adams in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

Matos said: “Welshy’s scan is clear. It’s just really a bad knock so there’s nothing major.”

He added: “We will still assess if he will be available for Saturday, but it’s not a bad injury.”

Matos said it was “a knock that is really, really painful”.

Ben Cabango available after Portsmouth fitness issue

Club captain Ben Cabango is available for Birmingham. Matos revealed that Cabango did not train in the build-up to Portsmouth because of a fitness issue.

That was why he started on the bench at Fratton Park, before coming on to replace Welsh.

Eustáquio pulls out of Canada duty

Stephen Eustáquio misses out again with the groin problem he picked up in the 4-0 win over Blackburn, and has been withdrawn from the Canada squad.

The Swans hope the former Porto midfielder can be fit for the visit of West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 21 November. Matos had said on Tuesday that he expected him back after the international break.

Melker Widell is out with a minor hamstring injury, which was why he came off at half-time at Fratton Park. He is expected back for the West Brom game.

Cameron Burgess and Ronald remain sidelined.

‘It creates a little bit of instability’

Matos admitted the run of knocks has made picking a side harder.

He said: “In this moment unfortunately we are having a few knocks and that creates a little bit of instability regarding the starting XI and the availability of players.”

He added: “You need to learn how to deal with the situations and that’s it. It’s hard to manage, but we will find a way of course.”

Scotland call still to be decided

Matos says no decision has been made on whether Welsh, 26, will join up with Scotland for the international break that follows the Birmingham game.

The defender has been a mainstay since joining from Celtic last summer, and earned a first Scotland call-up from head coach Sebastien Pocognoli in September.

In-form Birmingham next

Next up is a trip to Chris Davies’ Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Saturday (3pm).

The Blues leapfrogged the Swans into second with a 3-0 home win over Millwall last weekend. Defeat at Fratton Park was the Swans’ third in four league games, and dropped them to fourth.