Sousa has won two of his nine opening Championship matches

Manager Paulo Sousa says his Swansea City side are ready to "fly" high ahead of their visit to Doncaster on Tuesday.

The two-times Champions League winner has endured a tough start to life in the Swansea hot-seat since taking over in the summer.

He sealed his first home league win at the weekend although it came at a cost with key midfielder Ferrie Bodde ruled out for the rest of the season.

"To build a team, sometimes it takes a longer time," said Sousa.

"I arrived here without a scouting department, without a medical department and had players with serious injuries, while players with 50 goals between them have gone.

"Every day we can grow. We've started to understand each other, everyone's started to understand my leadership and it's easier to grow so we are happy and coming stronger and stronger during these days."

Swansea have won just two of their opening nine Championship games this season.

But injuries have plagued Sousa's short time in south Wales with the back-bone of the last two season's midfield success sidelined.

606: DEBATE I really think that now is the time for Paulo to get into the transfer market and bring a central midfielder in on a months loan to cover the injuries leftlegs15

Bodde was making his recovery from a 10-month absence with a cruciate knee ligament injury before the latest set-back on Saturday.

Darren Pratley has missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury and mumps, while Joe Allen has missed most of the season with a hamstring injury. Both are on their way back.

Andrea Orlandi is suffering with a thigh strain and misses Tuesday's trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, while Leon Britton picked up a toe injury and Cedric van der Gun has suffered with a thigh problem.

The latter two face fitness tests ahead of the Doncaster game.

Nathan Dyer and Jordi Lopez are suspended for the trip after being sent off in Saturday's 2-1 win over Sheffield United, taking the total number of red cards this season to five already.

But with the likes of Tom Butler returning, Sousa is confident he will have the squad to lift the Swans up the Championship table.

"When everyone is fit and I can work with everyone together, we can fly," he said.

"Confidence is with us because we can see the lads enjoying the training.

"They are coming to develop themselves and it means they have confidence in my work, they have confidence in themselves and they believe in their talent."

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