The madness that was yesterday and the most frantic transfer deadline for Swansea City in my memory has gone. Joe Rodon has gone, today Swansea City take on Huddersfield Town at the Liberty stadium, and that’s the now, and that is all that matters. Kick off 3pm.
Swans team news
Devastating news for Wolves loanee Morgan Gibbs-White who has a foot injury and is expected to be out for up to twelve weeks. The injury was received v Millwall two weeks ago. Nice move by the club keeping that quiet with deadline day so close. Credit where it is due. Freddie Woodman and Yan Dhanda are back in contention for Swansea City after missing the win over Millwall through illness. A stomach bug sidelined the goalkeeper and midfielder, but they have trained throughout the international break and are available for selection. George Byers is also back in full training, but is not ready for first-team action after his lay-off with a groin problem. New signings Joel Latibeaudiere and Kasey Palmer could be in line to make their debuts provided international clearance has been granted.
Huddersfield team news
Christopher Schindler, Lewis O’Brien and Alex Pritchard are all available for the terriers after recovering from injuries. Striker Danny Ward remains sidelined due to a hamstring problem. Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Ryan Schofield are also unavailable.
The managers views this morning
Steve Cooper
"We talk a lot about the Christmas period being busy, but this is like having that sort of schedule — where you play every three or four days — for a few months.It could potentially be defining times in a season, and these periods are going to be very important over the course of the campaign as there are a lot of points at stake in quite a short period of time.We had some experience of it when we started again after lockdown last season, and there are lessons we can take from that and things we can look to improve on to try and keep the players fresh and sharp, because we will need them. It’s been good to have got points on the board, as you’d rather be coming into this next section of the season in that situation, but things can change quickly so we need to pick up at the level we left off.”
Carlos Corberan:
"Every game is important and a chance to add points. They have a strong squad and are in their second season with their coach. They've not made many signings and I think that's positive [for them] because they did well last season. We have similar identities and behaviours and I think it will be a nice challenge for us and for them too. We are growing as a team and the players are starting to feel more comfortable and more fresh to make consecutive efforts. They're growing every day and that's important because we are going into a heavy period of games. Every club has the option to change players and we are going into three games in a week. It's very demanding but from the fans' point of view that's what you want.”
How has the season been going ?
Being able to use Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Morgan Gibbs-White in a free role is, so far, paying off for Cooper, but he will still demand more from his frontline.Having yet to make an outfield change to his starting lineup this season, Cooper is yet to discover whether that will prove beneficial or a hindrance as the next stage of the season plays out. Huddersfield were another team who would not have wanted the international break to arrive after posting two much-needed results under new boss Carlos Corberan. Although matches against Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United were far from pretty, claiming four points from the high-profile double-header has provided the Spaniard with something to work with over the coming weeks. Like his Swansea counterpart, Corberan will be looking to conduct business in the transfer market before Friday's deadline, but he is unlikely to change the nucleus of his side for Saturday's game. More goals are desperately needed in the final third, however, with only Fraizer Campbell finding the back of the net for the Yorkshire outfit in four matches.
Who is the referee?
Tony Harrington will take charge of proceedings in south Wales.
The Cleveland official was the man who sent off Jake Bidwell at Bristol City last term while he was also referee for the 0-0 draw at Cardiff City and the 3-0 win at Middlesbrough. He will be assisted by Mark Pottage and Craig Taylor. James Linington is the fourth official.
Watch the game LIVE on Swans TV.
https://www.swanseacity.com/video/packages