SWINDON TOWN: Amankwaah to play through the pain (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Amankwaah to play through the pain

7:20am Friday 10th September 2010 in

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SUCH is Kevin Amankwaah’s commitment to the Swindon Town cause, that the defender is willing to play through the pain barrier in order to face Southampton at the County Ground tomorrow.

Amankwaah, 27, knows he faces a fight to hold on to the right-back spot with Scotland Under 21 captain Paul Caddis returning to the squad following international duty.

But despite struggling all week with a hand injury, the former Yeovil and Swansea man - who has played a key role in Town’s back-to-back clean sheets - is refusing to rule himself out of selection for this weekend.

“I fell on my hand in the game last Saturday and it was hindering me so much,” he told the Advertiser.

“I had it X-rayed and something has shown up, but I don’t think it’s anything too serious. I’m going to have an MRI scan in a couple of days but it is painful.

“I’m hoping it is just bruised and it will have settled down a lot by Saturday, but I will make sure I’m fit for selection.

“Paul is back now, he’s a good player and we have got a fight on for that place.

“If you are in there then you’re there to be shot at, and people are wanting to come and take your place. Competition is healthy, but someone is going to be disappointed.

“You’re always going to get disappointments in football, but you just have to get on with it.”

Amankwaah was part of the Swindon side which comprehensively beat Southampton 3-0 in last week’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round tie.

And while the game is still fresh in the memory, the full-back believes it will have no impact on tomorrow’s League One fixture.

“I don’t think the game in the cup will have any bearing on Saturday,” he explained.

“They are still a very good team and even though they lost against Rochdale last week, I heard that they played quite well in that game.

“We all know that it only takes a few games to get you back up that table, and Southampton have got the players to hurt anyone in the league.

“We have to be on our guard on Saturday.”

Town have already suffered two defeats on their own patch this campaign, in stark contrast to last season where their success was built on strong home form.

And Amankwaah is confident they can get back to their best in Wiltshire and make it a place to be feared once more.

“It’s normally hard for teams to come to the County Ground,” he said.

“Everyone knows that we haven’t started the best, but hopefully we can turn this place back into a fortress like last year.”