Former Arsenal man reveals injury struggle after answering Portsmouth SOS
The former long-serving favourite tells of his own injury struggle after coming to Pompey’s defensive rescue.
Zak Swanson revealed he’s been battling his own fitness issues after answering Pompey’s injury cry for help.
And the former Arsenal man detailed how his impressive south-coast derby centre-back showing represented a new landmark in his senior career.
Swanson struggling with Achilles issue for south-coast derby
Swanson responded to John Mousinho’s defensive SOS by slotting into the middle of defence, helping his side to a comeback draw against Southampton on Sunday.
With Pompey without four of their senior centre-backs with Josh Knight, Conor Shaughnessy, Hayden Matthews and Regan Poole all sidelined, it was the right-back who moved into the middle against his club’s fierce rivals.
That meant Swanson started his first game in that position at senior level, with his only other exposure there a cameo against Blackburn last month.
Despite that lack of experience the 25-year-old impressed with the game marking his third successive start in unaccustomed roles, after playing left-back against Watford and in a midfield role against Sheffield Wednesday.
Swanson made his mark despite having to deal with his own fitness issues, after an Achilles problem forced him off at half-time against Watford.
Swanson: ‘Terry Devlin said they should sing his song about me!’
But the man who’s now in his fourth season at Fratton Park is ready to continue in the role against West Brom, if required.
Swanson said: ‘I’ve been struggling with my Achilles. I came off at Watford and was struggling a bit, but Southampton was a massive game and I wanted to be a part of it.
‘When I heard Regan was struggling, wasn’t going to be fit and I was playing centre-half I knew I had to play.
‘I’ve played plenty of positions for this football club now - Terry (Devlin) said they should sing his song about me!
‘I’m willing to play anywhere that’s required to help this football club, though. I just go out and give my all, that’s all you can do.
‘I found out I was playing centre-back on Saturday with Regan struggling with his groin after Watford. So we went through my position and what was wanted at centre-half.
‘I played there in a cameo this year, but that was my first start there in men’s football so it was a little different - but you can only do what you can do, go out there and give your all.’
Despite their injury woes, the draw against Southampton makes it a single league loss in eight games for Pompey - with 13 points collected from a possible 24. That challenge is to improve on that points return with Sunday’s game starting a run of three games in four on home soil.
Swanson added: ‘The lads are stepping up. When lads are out, lads need to step up. We need to get some boys back fit and that we can get on a good run until the end of the season.
‘We need to use the form as a springboard, everyone is showing commitment and giving 100 per cent.
‘We finished the game on Sunday with four full-backs (across the back four), so that shows everyone is giving their all for this club. We’ve had a good patch results recently, we need to turn some of those draws into wins and keep climbing the table.’