Chico Flores Hopes For Return At Newcastle

Swansea City defender Chico Flores is hoping to return to the first team on Saturday at Newcastle United after missing the last two games due to a dead leg.

The Spaniard picked up the injury during the 3-1 Capital One Cup win at Liverpool.

Club skipper Garry Monk has done a decent job in his absence but manager Michael Laudrup will hope to have one his first team centre backs available again.

Chico Flores said:

"I am hoping to return to full training on Thursday to see how it reacts.

"Like all players, I want to play week-in, week-out, and I am not the type of person who likes to leave the field with an injury.

"But I just couldn`t carry on at Liverpool; it was too bad.

"I thought I would recover after three or four days, but it just got worst and has dragged on.

"It was particularly disappointing because I thought I was at a good level after coming back from suspension. I was feeling comfortable on the pitch and with the team.

"My English is improving all the time, and although it`s still early days, I understand my team-mates a lot more and can express myself better.

"The injury is a blow, but I hope to be fit and performing well again soon, hopefully at Newcastle on Saturday.``

Chico's performances have been rather indifferent during the season, from looking a bit of a liability in some games - particularly when he got sent off with a high-leg foul on Louis Saha while also looking more recently solid and reliable - particularly at Liverpool in the Cup where he also netted the first goal.

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