Carlos Carvalhal is confident Swansea can cope with their growing casualty list following season-ending injuries to Leroy Fer and Wilfried Bony.
Swansea entertain Notts County in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday night, with seven first-team squad members unavailable.
However, Carvalhal – he has steered Swansea out of the Premier League relegation zone by taking 11 points from 18 since succeeding Paul Clement – insists the Welsh club can maintain its momentum.
“When one Swan falls, another Swan will fly,” Carvalhal said at his FA Cup pre-match press conference. “Fer was doing very well and Bony was growing game by game, but you saw what happened in the last game [the 1-1 draw at Leicester].
“[Tom] Carroll came inside the pitch and he didn’t just replace Fer, he gave something to the team. He played better second half when he was involved, he played really well, and now we have another solution with Andy King.
“He will be available on the weekend, [Sam] Clucas can play inside too, and Renato [Sanches] will recover in four or five weeks and have an impact until the end of the season. We don’t feel really we have a problem there in midfield.”
As well as Bony and Fer, Swansea are still without injured trio Sanches, Angel Rangel and Leon Britton. King and Andre Ayew are cup-tied, but should be involved at home to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
Burnley game
Carvalhal admits the Burnley game is Swansea’s priority this week, but he has pledged to field a strong side against Sky Bet League Two promotion contenders Notts County. The winners will visit Carvalhal’s old club Sheffield Wednesday in the fifth round.
“Our speech will not be different from the games against Wolves and Notts County the first time,” Carvalhal said. “The Premier League is the main competition, but we are happy to play these games. We understand the prestige of this competition, and we respect Notts County also.
“We will not take risks with the players away from our main competition, but be absolutely sure we will pick a strong team – one that will fight and try to win.”
The first game at Meadow Lane was drawn 1-1, with County veteran Jon Stead cancelling out Luciano Narsingh’s first-half effort.
“They are very difficult opponents, and ask different questions that we don’t get in the Premier League,” Carvalhal said. “So we must be ready in this type of game to give the correct answer.
“We will try to do the same with them, give them problems they don’t have in their league, and let’s see who will be more strong.”– PA
