Swans’ defender Alex Johnson has been cleared of any serious damage after suffering a knock to the elbow in last weekend’s match against St Kilda.

The second year player was unable to return to the field following the clash with St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt, which occurred in the final quarter of Saturday’s game.

“I just went back and punched the ball away and then Riewoldt sort of came through me,” Johnson said.

“My arms were out straight so they were pretty vulnerable and he just got me flush halfway up the bicep.

“I didn’t really know what happened, I’d never had an injury to the upper arm before and it just went completely dead and there was a fair bit of pain.”

Swans’ physiotherapist Matt Cameron confirmed today to SwansTV that Johnson has not suffered any structural damage to his elbow and is expected to resume training later this week.

“He had a knock on his elbow and it was really quite sore in the game and he was unable to finish, but he’s had some X-rays since then and he’s been cleared of any major damage,” he said.

“We’re just hoping it will improve by the end of the week as it should do, for him to be able to train and take his place in the team.”

Lewis Robert-Thomson is also expected to train this week after re-injuring his heel this weekend.

“He suffered a recurrence to his bruised heel which he had a number of weeks ago, so he was quite sore after the game,” Cameron said.

“It’s not as bad as last time so we’re hoping he’ll improve in time as well to be able to train on Friday and then play.”

Swans’ ruckman Shane Mumford will complete his first full schedule of training this week after six weeks on the sidelines with a back injury.

Cameron said Mumford’s match fitness will need to be assessed before a decision is made about his return to the field.

“He’ll be fully training with the group this week,” he said.

“He has missed five weeks with no running, so that deconditions them a little.

“We just need to determine how he responds to training and whether or not he is going to be available to play the ruckman role in the seniors.”

In other injury news, first-year Swan Alex Brown will play his first match in the red and white in the reserves this weekend.

Cameron said after a late pre-season, Brown is now fit to begin his season with the Swans.

“Alex has been out with hip surgery in the off-season to both hips, but he’s now done really a full pre-season where he’s been training for a number of weeks and we think he’s ready to start playing.”