Laudrup hopeful on fitness of Swansea duo

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup expects midfield duo Pablo Hernandez and Jonjo Shelvey to be fit for the opening game of the season.

The pair will be missing for the club’s second-leg third-round Europa League qualifying fixture with Malmo at the Swedbank Stadion on Thursday.

Former Liverpool player Shelvey misses the game with illness, while Hernandez is struggling with a groin injury.

Shelvey is more likely to feature in the Swansea’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 17, but Laudrup is hopeful both players will feature.

“We have a couple of players not here,” he told Wales Online.

“We didn’t want to risk Pablo because we are talking about a muscle injury.

“The players are off for the weekend and hopefully he will be 100 per cent for Monday and we can go from there.

“Jonjo is sick, (on Tuesday) he had a fever. We spoke to the doctor and we agreed to see how he was (on Wednesday morning) to see if he was better but he is worse so that is why he has not travelled.”

Despite their absence, Swansea will be confident of progression after winning the first leg 4-0 at the Liberty Stadium.