12:00pm Tuesday 9th March 2010
By Frank Smith
Malky Mackay expects captain Jay DeMerit, Adrian Mariappa and Danny Graham to be fit for tonight’s game with Swansea City after the trio picked up minor injuries at the weekend.
DeMerit recovered from the calf injury he suffered playing for the USA last week in time to face Derby County on Saturday, but picked up a knock on the opposite leg in the 2-0 defeat to the Rams.
Mackay praised DeMerit’s display at the weekend despite the centre back’s mistake which led to Derby’s second goal.
“We have a couple of knocks but nothing I hope will cause any problems,” Mackay said ahead of tonight’s game.
“Jay DeMerit and Adrian Mariappa took knocks and Danny Graham took a knock as well, but I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to stop them being involved against Swansea City.
“Jay took a whack on the other calf actually, believe it or not, against Derby. He travelled away and played in his international game during the week in Holland and came back in on Saturday and put in another real good performance for us and he was one of the main performers.”
Will Buckley played 71 minutes for the Reserves yesterday so will not be in the 18-man squad tonight and on loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley is missing through suspension once more, although he will be back against Peterborough United on Saturday.
Swansea have eight players out injured and striker Gorka Pintado is also serving the last match of his suspension after the horrendous tackle on Robbie Savage.
Midfielders Ferrie Bodde, Andrea Orlandi, Joe Allen, Jordi Lopez and David Cotterill are all out, as are defenders Gary Monk, Albert Serran and Fede Bessone.
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