The Swansea head coach is in tears due to…
Any player with Real Madrid on their resume is bound to draw some interest, so when left-back Jordi Govea joined Swansea City in the summer of 2018, it was hard to blame the supporters for being a bit curious.
After over three years, Govea’s lack of influence at the club is likely to leave you with a bewildered shrug of the shoulders if you mention his name to the locals in SA1.
But let’s clear up one thing first. The child’s difficulties in South Wales have largely been uncontrollable.
‘Injury nightmare’ is an understatement when it comes to the experience Govea has had over the past few years.
The 21-year-old’s numerous health concerns, which included multiple hamstring strains and an injury to his lateral collateral ligament, caused him to miss the whole 2019–20 season.
In fact, he hasn’t participated in any gameplay since the under-23s’ April 2019 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. He has been absent for 687 days in all.
Following a protracted and probably agonizing journey, Govea collaborated closely with the medical staff and head physiotherapist, Bethany Chaddock, of the academy.
When Govea made his much-anticipated comeback to action on Tuesday, playing the last 20 minutes for the under-23s against Millwall off the bench, emotions were bound to run high.
Govea made an immediate impression by scoring Swansea’s crucial second goal in a 2-0 victory.
It appears that the child’s emotions overcame him, as he raced to Chaddock, hugged the physiotherapist, and started crying instead of celebrating with his teammates.
For a man who has always been a big favorite among City’s academy staff, this must have felt like a huge atonement after so much difficulty and even uncertainty about where his Swansea career was heading.
The Ecuadorian will ideally be able to improve on it as well, especially since his contract expires this summer.
After the game, manager Jon Grey remarked, “He’s a cracking lad and really has been through the mill with injuries; he’s been so unlucky.”
