Thursday 22 February 2018 15:29, UK
Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal believes Alfie Mawson is "one of the best" defenders in the Premier League, after confirming the England international has recovered from a knee injury in time to face Brighton on Saturday.
Mawson "locked" his knee in the warm-up ahead of Swansea's draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and the 27-year-old was considered a major doubt for Saturday's league trip to Brighton.
However, Carvalhal has revealed that the injury is not as bad as previously thought and that Mawson is available to face the Seagulls.
"Alfie is okay, he is training," said Carvalhal. "He recovered as we expected so there is no problem and he will available for the game on Saturday.
"I said in the press conference [after the Sheffield Wednesday] that he locked the knee. Usually when you have locked the knee, we put the pincode in and it unlocks.
"But maybe he forgot the pincode on Wednesday it was still locked but after the game he was much better - he did not need any support and he has recovered completely."
Mawson's injury cost him the chance to impress England boss Gareth Southgate, who had travelled to watch Swansea face Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Carvalhal says he is yet to be approached by Southgate for advice about Mawson but the Portuguese insists he would be happy to speak with the England manager.
"I saw after he was there, it would be a pleasure to meet him one day but I have not met him so far. I will not tell him what to do," said Carvalhal.
"I recognise that Alfie is one of the best central defenders in the Premier League, that is for sure, but I will not say he deserves to go [to the World Cup], because I would be interfering with the work of my colleague [Southgate].
"He [Mawson] is progressing a lot in many different areas, they are not all on the pitch. He is a better and better player and is progressing.
"One of the best central defenders in the Premier League, I'm absolutely sure."
Swansea are currently one point outside the relegation places in 16th and can leapfrog Brighton with a victory at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
However, Carvalhal insists the game is of equal importance as any other in the Premier League.
"I don't think like that, we are working to achieve points against all teams," said Carvalhal. "It is not more important to win this than other games, we will try and win points against all opponents.
"Every point can be important."
