Marc Guehi speaks about his transition from a Chelsea youngster to realistically being the first name on the team sheet at Swansea. Make no mistake this is a player who knows his own mind.

It took little time for a certain Addji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guehi to make his ‘mark’ at Swansea City. Okay he had a few slippery games first off which worried a few Swansea watchers, but after that he has slotted in to manager Steve Cooper’s Matchday defensive plans as if he had been at the Liberty all his football career. A product of the thriving Chelsea football machine Marc certainly has the qualities required to play for his parent club at the very top of the football pyramid.

Through guidance and hard work Marc now finds himself an England under 21 international and was a part of Cooper’s victorious England side who beat Spain in the 2017 World Cup final. In fact Marc even chipped in with a goal. Having played at all six levels of the game for his chosen home country ( Marc is Ivorian ) he also references one John Terry, surprisingly highly.

‘John was a great leader, a great defender and someone I definitely look up to," said the England Under-21 international. "I have spoken with him and he trained with us a few times. He told us to always be focused on what you do, communicating at all times and making sure you’re concentrated. But also that you’re having fun, enjoy what you do. He was underrated when it came to playing out with both feet. Guehi admitted that Lampard's faith in youth is an incentive for him, pointing to three individuals as "role models" to follow. Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham... they’re role models for me," he previously said. "They’re young players doing really well and that’s an incentive to know that if you keep working hard, there are opportunities."

Guehi’s development is moving forwards quickly too as is his confidence when talking to the media, especially on tonight’s top of the table scrap on a new Liberty pitch. “That’s going to be a big game; we know the task at hand,” he said. We can review the QPR game, find out where we can get better and move onto that game. They’re a team that’s in and around where we are, so I think it’s really important that we play them and beat them; that’s the main aim. Reading is our next focus and we’ll be ready for that one. I’m just enjoying it at the moment,” he added. Game by game, I’m taking everything in my stride. I’m not taking anything for granted. We’ve got a really good squad, so I must make sure I stay on top of my game. The boys challenging to get in the team are making it hard for me as well. I try to take every opportunity and I’m really enjoying the chance of getting that at Swansea.That’s credit to the team, credit to how we’re playing and the coaches we have; it’s credit to everyone."

Tonight’s game will be the first on the brand new Liberty pitch relaid and restored over the last ten days - the new playing surface will surely fit in to Coopers style and restore some faith and confidence in his young players and in his football system at Swansea. "This is a high-profile league. It gets watched by millions and millions around the world," Cooper said.There are obviously massive prizes at stake and for the integrity of the league, you need to be playing on fair surfaces. "It's amazing what they have done in terms of getting it down as quick as they have," he added. Obviously we haven't played on it yet. Let's see how the game goes, but I am sure everyone's fairly confident that it's going to play well and hopefully it will. "Fingers crossed for everybody, because everyone's trying to do the right thing, that it ends being a real positive step forward and it's a pitch worthy of the league we play in.The club in my opinion made a really positive decision to make a change and hopefully the rewards are there, both on the pitch and for the image of the football club."

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The Royals have lost three of their last six fixtures, having tailed off after a magnificent start saw them hold a clear lead over the pack. Their form away from home has been up and down, with one win, one loss and two draws in their last four, however they have managed at least one goal in every one of those fixtures. Midfielder Ovie Ejaria has proven to be crucial for Reading since he signed permanently - following a fine loan spell - in August. The former Liverpool man has made 22 key passes this season and has bagged two goals for himself, marking himself out as their creative fulcrum. Portuguese forward Lucas João has made a terrific start to the season with 11 goals to his name. João signed for Reading in 2019, just three days after scoring against them for Sheffield Wednesday.

The swans will look at this game and the coming encounters at home as key fixtures in their chase for promotion back to the premier league. After tonight Watford are on the radar, again at home on Saturday before both Brentford and Norwich City also arrive with their own ideas about the swans immediate future. There are exciting times ahead for Cooper, however he keeps his feet firmly on terra firma, because solid earth is what he has got now beneath his feet and very few will argue against his tactics to date. New pitch, the last game of the torrid 2020 year across the world, it’s three points or bust for Swansea City tonight, because in games like these that is the only result swans fans want.

Tonight’s game kicks off at 8pm and is LIVE on SKY Football from 7.30pm.
Swans TV are offering a LIVE service but only to dark markets, full details on the club website

Photo: Action Images

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