Swansea manager Roberto Martinez has allowed Mikel Alonso to train with the club.
Martinez considers midfielder move
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez has allowed former Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Alonso to train with the club to enable him to build up match fitness after he was released by the Segunda Division side.
The 28-year-old, who is the elder brother of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, already has experience on these shores after a loan spell with Bolton last season but failed to secure a deal at the Reebok Stadium after he made just a handful of appearances.
Martinez already has a number of midfield options and has allowed the Basque midfielder to build up his sharpness rather than seeking to give him a contract at the Liberty Stadium.
Pintao worry
Meanwhile, Swansea physio Richie Evans has revealed that Gorka Pintado will require an operation on an ongoing hernia injury but should be able to play for the club during the festive period.
Manager Roberto Martinez admitted the 30-year-old Spanish striker has only been playing at 70 per cent of what he is capable of, which has prompted the club's medical staff to propose solving the problem with surgery.
The recuperation period could see Pintado on the sidelines for up to four weeks but he will not go under the knife until the new year to enable him to feature for the Swans over a busy Christmas programme.
Evans told the
Swansea Evening Post: "This is quite a common problem in the game as the bodies of some players are still getting used to the demands of the British game.
"Gorka has had pain and discomfort in the abdominal area sometimes after training or matches, but we are monitoring it on a daily basis. We want to delay it for as long as we can as we are attempting to identify the best possible date for this.
"At the moment it looks like the end of this month or early January. Then, when he has the operation, there will be a rehabilitation period of between two to four weeks."
