Joe Allen is fit to face Coventry City tomorrow afternoon in the first Sky Bet Championship away game for the swans since drawing against Huddersfield Town five weeks ago. In that time two victories on a short tour of Scotland for the swans gave some hope before last weeks disappointing home loss to Norwich City.

Without a doubt things have to change and the test away to the sky blues will be a tough one. They have won four out of their last six games conceding no goals in those victories. The slump we saw from them at the start of the season, and let’s be honest down to no fault of their own is now a distant memory. Had they been able to fulfil their fixtures from the start of the season properly they would no doubt be in the top six.

The swans are boosted by the news that Joe Allen is moving freely and came through the second half last week at Norwich pretty much unscathed, but the mystery continues with regards to Michael Obafemi. Speaking to a variety of people with knowledge of the current situation it seems that Michael is keen to get to January uninjured or let’s say, he doesn’t want to aggravate the ‘issues’ we are told he has at present.

It’s highly unlikely he will be named in the squad for Coventry City, and if he is it will be on the bench. That’s a shame for the swans and for him because clubs won’t be interested in a player with the low return he has this season goal wise. It’s a double edged sword getting him to January so he can possibly leave the club, but not playing really doesn’t increase his chances of leaving. Especially for the price the swans have put on his head to leave. A price Burnley wouldn’t match in the summer. The figure of seven million plus seems a long way away now.

We asked the question on Nathanael Ogbeta this morning in Jack Butty’s straight forward article on his expectations this Christmas and that’s now been answered. He will be offered the chance to leave the club on loan next month for the rest of the season. Two League one clubs and a League two club have displayed an interest, one of the League one clubs tried to sign him in the summer but Ogbeta declined the offer. That should now change along with Brandon Cooper who has also been of interest for a loan period.

Russell Martin has confirmed that Cooper and Ogbeta will leave the club in the coming weeks if all works out to plan. On that subject Martin has stated. "Brandon and Nat will probably go and play some games. It's been a frustrating time for them so they'll probably go out and play. We've got interest in both at the minute so we'll just be assessing which ones are the best options for them and which one interests them and then with Josh and Julian, which ones fit the financial demands of the club."

Morgan Whittaker ( Plymouth ) and Kyle Joseph ( Oxford United ) can expect to remain at their respective clubs this January, Whittaker was the EFL League one player of the month in September and has bagged seven goals in seventeen for the pilgrims. Joseph has scored five goals in seventeen games for Oxford United and is currently recovering from an ankle injury. Both players are clearly taking full advantage of their opportunities away from the swans. The only recall if there is one will be Whittaker if the swans lose both Joel Piroe and Michael Obafemi in January.

Russell Martin speaking on the two players currently causing him some degree of concern, Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere cleverly put other clubs on alert by mentioning their contract disputes yesterday. This most certainly will expedite their leaving if they continue to not sign the improved terms offered by Swansea City. With Russell Martin it’s sometimes more about the reason why he says something than the obvious conclusions some reach without analysing the actual context. If Manning and Latibeaudiere were unaware of their situation with the swans boss, they most certainly are now.

As are the rest of the football league.

More Swansea City news later.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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