Academy graduate Liam Cullen may well be handed a start on Saturday alongside Michael Obafemi in the FA Cup third round tie against Southampton.

It is highly unlikely Joel Piroe will start this game despite not having played any professional competitive matches in four weeks. News this morning, and clearly from the set training patterns do indicate a slight change in formation and an opportunity for Cullen, yet again to prove himself. Most swans fans would love him to take up the opportunity of a loan to a league one club but he seems pretty reluctant to leave Swansea. This could backfire on him as January is a prime time to find a club a league below and put fire in your belly as a proper professional. Going on loan isn’t just about game time, Cullen has been wrapped in a very safe bundle of cotton wool at Swansea and needs to get out of the safety of that bubble and experience new things. Different clubs have different training methods, and established routines he could learn a lot from, and as we said earlier last month being ‘sat on the bench smiling isn’t a job’. Cullen needs all that, including awareness of his skill set at another football league club, it can only help him. If it does everyone is a winner.

Russell Martin could well be playing his instruments in reverse of course, he has a majestic way of doing this in press gatherings. I’ve seen it first hand when attending them. For those of us of a certain age he makes Ronnie Corbett sat in his Saturday night armchair look like an amateur ! However, it seems Cullen will feature, we are certain of that, he is yet to do anything of significance this season, and his goal scoring record is exceptionally poor. My personal feelings, and they are just that are any inclusion of him will go against the swans getting a positive result. Cullen needs farming out and needs to extend his football education. Even if he gets a hatrick on Saturday he would be well advised to remember the last swans striker to do that in a cup game this season.

As long as Obafemi and Piroe are fit Cullen doesn’t get a league look in. Martin will almost certainly go hunting for a striker to compete with them as well this month. So what’s the point in hanging about Liam, do what Morgan Whittaker has done, and get out there and learn.

What would you like Liam Cullen to do this month ?

Photographs licensed from Reuters

Swansea City Polls