Nathan Wood | Being out for so long was tough, but I am better for coming through it

Nathan Wood admits he underestimated the impact suffering the first serious injury of his career would have on him, but the Swansea City centre-back believes he is getting back to his best form under head coach Luke Williams.

Wood missed three months of the season after requiring surgery on an ankle injury suffered in the home victory over Sheffield Wednesday back in September.

He returned with a late substitute appearance in victory over Preston in December and understandably took time to bed back in after a long lay-off.

But Wood has been in superb form over recent weeks, forging a strong centre-half pairing with Ben Cabango.

Head coach Williams was full of praise for the resilience and resolve the pair have shown in recent games, and Wood feels he is once again showing what he is capable of.

“It was a tough first half of the season, I came back and it was a difficult period with bad performances and tough results,” he said.

“But now I feel I am finding consistency. This was the first time in my career I had really had a long period out with injury and had to work my way back and figure out how to get my form back.

“I think I underestimated the impact it would have. I am optimistic and I have confidence in myself, and I look back through the journey and I understand how strong I had to be to come back.

“We have good players, it’s not a given you get back in. It was a tough time, but you learn and you grow and I think I am better for it.

“This run of games has almost been a relief really, because I can feel I am getting there. I love playing with Benny too, I always have, and it’s going decent so hopefully we can keep it going.

“We are annoyed we haven’t got clean sheets but we have got to keep working."

Wood has enjoyed working under Williams, being particularly impressed by the intensity of training under the former Notts County boss, and he believes that has played a part in Swansea’s run of three wins and a draw in their last six games ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bristol City.

“Training has been tough, it’s been very demanding,” he said.

“The coaches have been demanding. We have had double sessions and we do a lot of full-size games.

“But it’s not just a full-size game, it is done exactly as it would be as if you were out on the pitch on a matchday.

“It’s really good. It can get a bit emotional when you are playing against your teammates, so how do you handle it when you are losing? How do you deal with it? How do you find the solution?

“You are going to have to be able to do that on a Saturday or a Sunday.

“It’s not easy for a manager to come in halfway through the season, but the meetings we have and the information we have been given has been good.

“We have taken it onboard, but there is still a lot go for us, we know that.”