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Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero was pulled up in a training session amid fears he might injure himself as he works hard to impress Francesco Guidolin.

After a blistering start to the season, when he terrorised the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Darryl Janmaat, the speedster has featured just twice in 2016.

He hasn't played since the shock FA Cup exit at Oxford and hasn't started a league game since Boxing Day.

However Swans coach Alan Curtis says it's not for want of trying: "Jeff has worked incredibly hard in training."

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"He was actually taken out of a session because the GPS, which all the players wear these days, was saying he was going into overload (and risking injury).

Curtis added: "Every day he works his socks off."

His lack of first team action have led to rumours - that have been rubbished by the club - linking him with a loan move to the Championship, namely Middlesbrough.

And, whilst Curtis believes the winger still has a part to play, he feels the Ecuadorian international has suffered as a result of Swansea City's diamond formation.

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"He wasn't involved against Southampton but that's just because Mo (Barrow) is edging him at the moment. I feel sure that if Jeff is called upon, he can play a huge part in the battle for survival.

"I think he has suffered a little bit through the formation of the team," Curtis said in the South Wales Evening Post.

"We have looked to bolster midfield and that has made it difficult for Jeff.

"He is basically an out-and-out winger, and he has suffered because the diamond has worked quite well.

"We all know what Jeff can do when he is on song — he is almost unplayable. But like so many players in the team, Jeff would probably admit that some of his performances this season have been a little bit disappointing.

"That is reflected in the form of the team as a whole."