There is a huge boost for Swans fans with the news that Ferrie Bodde could return this season

It looked as if the Swansea City midfielder could be out for the season with a repeat of the injury that sidelined him for much of last season.

However, those fears now appear to have been pushed to one side and the midfielder is on course for a return to aid the Swans promotion push.

"The scans I had in Swansea straight after the injury looked to confirm another tear in my meniscus (knee cartilage),'' explained Bodde via the club's official website. "I was devastated.

"But when I went back to Holland for a second opinion, the surgeon there told me to wait a couple of weeks for the swelling to go down before confirming the full extent of the damage.

"When I had the second scan three or four weeks later, the surgeon said I didn't have extensive damage to the meniscus as first thought. The cartilage was ok. I couldn't believe it.

"He said he was really pleased with my progress and wasn't going to operate at that stage.

"It was an unbelievable feeling because I had been really down. The thought of being out for another year had made me really low.

"The support I received from the fans lifted me a bit, along with the positive reaction of the chairman (Huw Jenkins) and the manager (Paulo Sousa). It was nice that people are thinking about you and the supporters believed in me; but my head was still all over the place.

"I've been training six days a week,'' he added. "From 9am until 3pm, with only a 30 minute break in between; sometimes not even that.

"I've improved my stability and the movement in my knee playing football in the sand. I've even done some passing drills.

"Every time I've gone back to the surgeon he has said my knee is improving.''

Photo: Action Images

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