Chris Coleman reveals Swansea & Wales skipper isn't yet close to a first-team return
It seems Ash playing through the pain barrier at Crystal Palace really is biting us in the posterior, as he now looks set to miss out on the next couple of matches.
“We scanned him and it was clear he could not play - how quickly the injury settles down, I don't know, but from my point of view, as long as the players arrive here early, we can see if there's a chance of them playing or not.
“Michael Laudrup said he had him on the bench at Southampton just as a number, and looking at the injury I can see that he was never going to play, but it was good to have him here and take a look for ourselves. I am not sure when he will be back, but I am not sure he will be back for the next two or three games after this international camp.” Chris Coleman
A couple of questions. Why was he allowed to play if the problem had the potential to become this serious? With all due respect to Crystal Palace, if you were to rest your main centre-back for any game it would probably have been that one, and it's dealt us a harsh blow as we've really, really missed him in the last few games. I'd argue that (if he was selected) the Birmingham game would have gone down differently and I'd say the same about the Southampton game. Ben Davies has been out of position for two goals in the last two weeks and Ash's organisational skills can't be underestimated, while the second Southampton goal... well, Ash would have been having none of that. BANG! Get it clear. Job done.
Secondly, what's with that quip by Coleman that Laudrup had said he was on the bench at Saints "to make up the numbers"?! It could be, I suppose, a bit of mind games by Laudrup aimed at reinforcing Ash's fragile state (and that he should be excused from playing in the international games), however if it's true what was the point? Is his presence that beneficial that it was worth sacrificing a place on the bench? I'd like to see youngsters given a chance on the bench more, and it must be disheartening if no-one from the development squad is deemed worthy of a place over an unfit Ash - even if he is our captain.
Hopefully it was the former and not the latter, and we'll start to see players being promoted from the youth set-up regularly, but in the meantime Swansea fans will surely have their fingers crossed Ash gets back to fitness as soon as possible. After all, there's only three matches to get out of the way before the first ever top-flight South Wales derby.
Not that I'm looking forward to it, or anything.