Russell Martin hopes unfortunate Tivonge Rushesha can bounce back from injury blow

Russell Martin hopes Tivonge Rushesha can bounce back and recover from a cruel injury setback after an impressive season for Swansea City Under-23s.

Rushesha had skippered the development side over much of the 2021-22 campaign, and caught the eye in the middle centre-back role with his confidence and poise with the ball at his feet, winning the club's under-23s' player of the season award.

His form came on the back of a long spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and, unfortunately, the defender has now suffered the same injury to his other knee and is facing another prolonged period on the sidelines.

Head coach Martin had been among those to have spoken highly of Rushesha’s performances for Kris O’Leary’s side.

And he hopes the player – who made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old against Cambridge United in 2019 – can show the same resilience to return and show his undoubted talent.

"Sadly, Tiv has done his cruciate again, on the other knee," the Swans boss.

"It's so unlucky. He came back brilliantly from the other one, he now needs to digest it, he's been really upset, obviously.

"He's had the operation, and hopefully he's on the mend. It's just about us getting him in a good place mentally and physically, and just taking his time to get back and making sure he's right."