by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Ljungskile SK defender Etchu Tabe has been given the green light to prepare for next Monday's key visit from fifth place Halmstads.

The former Georgia Southwest College standout, who was converted from attack to defense midway through the season, was pulled early from their weekend draw against Gefle with a hand injury.

Tabe was given the all clear, despite a Monday exam that revealed a fracture. The Allsvenskan mites stand but one place and two points above the relegation fray and will surely be glad to have their backline revelation available.

"I have a broken bone," he told Soccer365. "It will be no problem to play. It's a little difficult on defense with the hand, but it's not really been a problem in training."

As for his transformation from forward to a marking center back, Tabe says a crash course has contributed heavily to his repeated fine showings in front of fellow American Colin Burns, the team's netminder.

"I think I've done prety well," he stated. "I've gotten a lot of help from the coaches and from the other players who play back there. I'm just trying to listen to them."

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

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