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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Swansea City star clapped back into training as Russell Martin gives key injury updates for Norwich City test

Swansea City are set to be without striker Michael Obafemi for Saturday's clash with Norwich City.

The forward was withdrawn during Republic of Ireland's 2-1 friendly loss to Norway on November 17 and missed the Swans' training matches against Hearts and Dundee United.

And he is set to sit out the visit of the Canaries, although Harry Darling - who also missed the two friendly fixtures in Scotland - is set to be available.

READ MORE: Swansea City injury latest ahead of Norwich City test and the points needed to fulfil Championship play-off aim

"Michael and Harry didn't play in Scotland because they had little niggles," explained the head coach. "Michael picked up one with Ireland, so he's probably unlikely to make this weekend, but Harry's back in and ready to be involved. Pretty much everyone else is fit.

"We've got the World Cup boys back, Joe [Allen], Ollie [Cooper] and Ben [Cabango], then Olivier [Ntcham] was a couple of days after them, so everyone's looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, as reported by WalesOnline this week, Liam Walsh has stepped up his recovery from a ruptured Achilles.

The central midfielder sustained the injury during Swansea's pre-season clash with Haverfordwest County in the summer and has not featured for the Swans in the 2022/23 campaign. And Martin has revealed the 25-year-old was given a special reception when he re-joined training with his team-mates at Fairwood.

"Liam Walsh has returned back to the grass," added Martin. "It'll be a while until he's training properly and back with the squad but it's brilliant to see him take that big step. He's been working so hard in the gym and everything else.

"The players clapped him on to the training pitch this week which was a really nice moment for him and everyone else. I think the break has been really good for us. I think we've utilised it really well. I'm really happy with the work we've got in."

Elsewhere, Martin stated that there has been progress in tying down Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere to new deals.

The pair both see their current contracts expire at the end of the season, although they held talks with chief executive Julian Winter and head of football operations Josh Marsh during the World Cup break.

"I think there's progress, there's definitely been discussions and offers on the table," Martin said of the pair.

"Josh Marsh and Julian Winter are in charge of that and they continue to work hard to try to get those guys tied down.

"The players want to stay and they want to be here, but they have a lot of external factors, agents, family situations and all that stuff.

"I hope by the time I speak to you next week we'll have had more progress or we'll hopefully have one or even two of them tied down."

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