For me Jack Cork was the key signing for us of last season and not only that he was surely the bargain signing of the Premier League season which just shows how much of a good job we do when we are securing new talent.

Cork signed for the Swans from Southampton in the January transfer window and immediately installed himself as a firm feature in the Swans midfield and is one of the key players for me that we have in place for this season.

Another good season for Cork and he can work his way into the England squad and could yet book himself a ticket on the trip to France with his country next summer.

For me Cork's partnership with Ki in the midfield area will be a key part of our success this season and if there are players that we need to keep fit then Cork is one of them. I am also anticipating a few goals from Cork this season which could well make other clubs look at him and wonder how he went under the radar for them when he became available in January.

And today he will go back to where his career started when the Swans take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the opening game of the season. He joined the club as a youngster back in 1998 but was released after 13 years in 2011 having never worked his way into the first team and experiencing no less than seven loan spells.

He headed to Southampton where he stayed until the Swans bought him to South Wales at the start of this year.

"It was a great place to start my career and I learnt so much there, I will always be grateful but it was frustrating not being able to get that opportunity," said Cork. "I always wanted to play for them as a kid and it never quite happened for me. There's no denying players want to play well against their former teams. I am no different but it is always nice to go back and see a few old faces and catch up.

"A lot of guys I knew have moved on but some of the senior guys like John Terry are always good to me when I am there so I am looking forward to it.

"I have only played there a couple of times since I left and I have to admit it feels a little bit strange going back," he said. "I was there for so many years but I did not get to play a first-team game there until after I had left, which is a shame."

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