Swansea City

Image source, Rex Features

Swansea City fans will hope to see more of Ronald after the Brazilian winger gave a reminder of his qualities with a lively substitute appearance during Saturday's opening defeat at Middlesbrough.

Having been a doubt for the game with a hamstring issue, the 23-year-old was kept on the bench until he was introduced as a half-time substitute.

Ronald offered Swansea some much-needed attacking threat out wide, looking dangerous whenever he received the ball on the left and ran at his opponents.

“I think he made a huge difference. You could see the level, how Ronald lifted us, he looked such a big threat," Swans head coach Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales after the game.

“He’s so calm and composed and he can make explosive actions as well.

“We know how good Ronald is and one of the reasons he didn’t start is because of that. We were worried about him playing from the beginning because he did pick up something in the week.

“But we threw caution to the wind and brought him on early, and he definitely impacted us in a positive way.”

Image source, Getty Images

Head coach Luke Williams was encouraged by the Swansea City players who made their debuts during the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, forward Eom Ji-sung and midfielder Goncalo Franco all started at the Riverside, while striker Zan Vipotnik came on as a second-half substitute.

Here is what Williams had to say about his starting debutants in an interview with BBC Radio Wales.

Vigouroux: “Good distribution, made a couple of key saves, didn’t have a chance for the penalty because it was incredible. Really happy with Lawrence."

Eom: “I think the fact he got cramp at the end of the game probably is an indicator that it’s been an eye-opening experience for him.

"He’s never played anywhere near this Championship intensity and this type of atmosphere.

“But he showed some real quality. He’s got a long way to go and he’ll improve through the season, no doubt.”

Franco: “He’s a tough character. He’s played top-flight football and I think you could see he can handle himself, handle the ball.

“It was a tough game for him but no complaints about Goncalo from me.”

Image source, Rex Features

Azeem Abdulai had a first league start to forget on Saturday as he conceded the penalty which led to Swansea City losing their opening Championship game of the season at Middlesbrough.

The 21-year-old winger tripped Boro's Isaiah Jones in the first half, with Emmanuel Latte Lath converting the subsequent spot-kick to score the game's only goal.

Abdulai, who was making only the 12th senior appearance of his career, was then replaced at half-time by Ronald.

“The players have been told repeatedly, over and over, don’t tackle in the box," Swansea head coach Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales after the match.

“If you’re a good attacking player with good instincts, as soon as a leg is thrown, you make sure it s you and you go over.

“You cannot tackle like that in the box but he’s a player without a huge amount of experience and I’m pleased he got to play today.

“It’s a mistake that cost us. We’re well beaten anyway because of the chances they created throughout the game but of course that changes the flow drastically.”

Image source, Getty Images

Luke Williams must decide whether Ronald is fit to feature at Middlesbrough with the Swansea City boss short of wide players for Saturday’s opening game of the Championship season.

Brazilian winger Ronald has been nursing a hamstring problem during pre-season but has played some part in full training this week.

Swansea have limited options out wide anyway, with Williams keen to sign two wingers before the transfer window closes.

If Ronald does not make it, utility man Azeem Abdulai will be favourite to start on the flank at the Riverside having done so in Swansea’s final pre-season friendly.

Two young wingers, Aimar Govea and Sam Parker, are injured.

Joe Allen and goalkeeper Andy Fisher will definitely miss the Boro trip due to fitness issues.

Williams is expecting a stern test against Michael Carrick’s side, who made Manchester City youngster Micah Hamilton their fourth g of the summer on the eve of Swansea’s visit to Teesside.

“They have a really good coaching staff and a brilliant manager,” Williams said.

“They are going to be tough opposition, there’s no doubt about that. We have to make sure we are ready and we can assess afterwards how we have done.”

Ethan Latham
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Swansea City captain Matt Grimes insists a "good start" is needed if the Swans are to better last season's 14th-place finish.

The midfielder added the third and final goal as Swansea eased to a convincing win over Portuguese side Rio Ave in their final pre-season friendly.

The Swans begin their Championship campaign away at Middlesbrough on Saturday, chasing a first opening day victory in four years.

"The game is a good test to see where we’re at and it’s one we’re really looking forward to, they’ll certainly be play-off contenders this season," said Grimes.

"I think we need to focus on having a good start. Last season our start wasn’t good enough, it made things much more difficult throughout the season. It was difficult to get real momentum.

"We’ve already had from January until the summer under this manager [Luke Williams], now we’ve had a full pre-season to be conditioned in the way he wants us to be.

"As far as everything is concerned from a football side, it’s been spot on. We now need to start well."

Grimes also praised Swansea City's new recruits and the way they have settled in at the club.

"They’ve been brilliant since arriving, getting up to speed and getting in tune with how the manager wants to play," said Grimes.

"Their English is really good and just through repetition the manager can get his message across the way he wants.

"That’s also been down to us to help and show it the way he wants, I think that’s what we’ve done so far, every player that’s come in has added to the group.

"The squad’s in a good place and we're ready to go."

Image source, Getty Images

Jobi McAnuff reckons Swansea City will be a “great watch” this season but fears Luke Williams’ side may be held back by a lack of squad depth.

Head coach Williams is targeting an improvement on the struggles of the last campaign, when Swansea had relegation concerns before pulling clear of the bottom three in the spring.

But the Swans are going into the new Championship season with a much thinner squad, having said farewell to 13 senior players over the summer and brought in only four to date.

“I think over a long, hard season that is definitely something to be mindful of,” said EFL pundit McAnuff.

“Luke Williams is probably looking at quality over quantity - players that can come in and really have an impact in of the way he wants to play.

“Is there a financial aspect to that? Yes, I'm sure there is with the way the club's being run at the moment.

“What you don't want to do is leave your manager short in of being able to really go out and implement what he wants to do. So that will be a question mark for me.”

McAnuff describes Swansea as “a club in transition” following the turbulence of last season.

Michael Duff was named head coach in the summer of 2023 only to be sacked in December.

Alan Sheehan then took caretaker charge for seven games before Williams arrived in January.

“I think the time Luke Williams had last year will be really important,” McAnuff said.

“I think when he started he spoke about that [Swansea] identity, but when you don’t have your players, it's very hard. I don't think it's the full Luke Williams show yet.

“But the recruitment that's gone on, it'll be players that he feels can come in and really add to that way of playing.”

Image source, Getty Images

One of Swansea’s new faces, goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, played with McAnuff at Leyton Orient.

McAnuff, who also played for the likes of Watford, Crysal Palace and Reading, says Vigouroux is an ideal number one for Swansea given the club’s philosophy.

“When it comes to distribution - and that's obviously really important with the way Luke wants to play - he is as good as anyone I've played with at any level,” McAnuff added.

“In of handling the ball, he is very, very capable and that's such an important part of what Luke Williams wants to do.

“Having seen what his teams have done previously, I feel Swansea will be a great watch.

“My concern for them, and any of his teams, is that they can be a little bit open at times, particularly on transitions. They do leave gaps if they lose the ball and that would probably be my reservation if you are talking about them really pushing on this year, but I do think there'll be improvement.”

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City’s recruitment work this summer may not be restricted to players.

The Championship club could also be in the market for an interpreter or two, to ensure head coach Luke Williams can get his message across to his new-look squad.

Swansea used a Portuguese speaker to help Ronald understand what was required of him after the Brazilian winger’s move to Wales last January.

The Swans have since added Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco to their squad, as well as Slovenian striker Zan Vipotnik and South Korean attacking midfielder Eom Ji-Sung.

While the new recruits can understand some English, Williams says “a lot of body language” has been used on the training ground during pre-season.

“We are getting the message across - Google translate is a hell of a tool,” he said with a smile.

“Josh Key speaks a bit of Korean - he is incredible.

“Ronald is happy because he has a Portuguese-speaking team-mate, so he and Goncalo are helping each other a lot.”

Swansea’s other summer g, Lawrence Vigouroux, has represented Chile internationally.

The goalkeeper was born and raised in London but, according to Williams, “speaks four languages really badly”.

“I have worked with Lawrence before and we nicknamed him ‘the glue’ because he can go into the dining room and sit with any person and whoever he is sitting with will end up laughing,” Williams said.

“It might be people you have never seen laugh who are throwing their head back. Then the next day he is sitting with a different person and they are laughing.

“Lawrence can communicate with pretty much everyone in the world, whether it’s speaking the language or just joking.

“But we are thinking to bring some help in as well, with some translators.”

Vigouroux will start in goal at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Eom and Franco also expected to make full debuts.

Striker Vipotnik is tipped to start on the bench having only arrived in Wales this week.

Swansea City Women have signed 16-year-old forward Aimee Deacon.

Deacon made her Adran Premier debut for Barry Town United Women last season when aged just 15, but left the club at the end of 2023-24.

“Aimee is a young player who has already got a season of experience and game time at this level under her belt, which is an excellent achievement,” said Swansea manager Jamie Sherwood.

Deacon has family at Swansea City, with her brother Callum part of the Championship club's under-18 squad.

Image source, Getty Images

Luke Williams says Swansea City are “excited” by Zan Vipotnik as the striker prepares for a debut in English football at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Slovenia international Vipotnik ed Swansea on a free last week following the collapse of his former club Bordeaux.

The 22-year-old is unlikely to start at the Riverside having only begun training with his new club this week.

But head coach Williams says the former Maribor frontman has made a positive impression.

“He's probably not at the same [fitness] level as the rest of the squad, which is understandable,” he said.

“We have to respect that he's going to take a bit of time to get up to speed, but we really like what we've seen from him and we're really excited about him.

“He's been in full training for a couple of days to get his fitness up, which has probably been a bit of a shock to the system. He will get there.”

As things stand, Vipotnik will compete with Liam Cullen for the number nine shirt at Swansea, though the club are still seeking attacking reinforcements.

If no other centre-forward arrives this month, it could be that Brazilian winger Ronald is deployed in a more central role when required.

Cullen, 25, is expected to lead the line as Swansea look to begin 2024-25 with away victory at the Riverside.

Williams says the Wales international’s “top mentality” means he is ready to fight Vipotnik for a place in his team.

“I think there's more to come from Liam Cullen - his personality means he's just never going to stop,” he added.

“He keeps pushing all the time and he's embraced Vipi (Vipotnik) since he's been here, which is what we expected. That's what we want - healthy competition as adults, not sulking.”

Image source, Getty Images

A group of Swansea City fans are calling for a statue of Mel Nurse to be erected at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Nurse, 86, played more than 250 games for the Swans, but will be best ed by most for his contribution off the pitch.

The former centre-half twice played a central role in saving Swansea from going out of business, first in 1985 and then in 2001.

The Championship club announced this week they would name a bar after Nurse this season, but of the so-called Mel Nurse Statue Committee want to go a step further.

“Mel has done so much for our club and its fans. It’s time this was properly and permanently recognised,” they said.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Luke Williams says the “landscape has changed” regarding Swansea City’s contract offer to Jamie Paterson, but has not completely ruled out the idea of the attacking midfielder returning in 2024-25.

Paterson was offered a new deal by Swansea at the end of last season but opted not to re-sign for the Championship club.

With two days to go until the new season begins, Paterson remains a free agent – and Swansea are looking for players.

Paterson, 32, scored 17 goals in 109 appearances after ing Swansea in August 2021 and was one of their most effective attacking players last season.

When asked about the former Bristol City player’s situation, Swansea head coach Williams said: “With Jamie, the landscape changed a bit because we didn’t have too much with him. We didn’t know what his plans were over the summer.

“The wheels are [now] in motion with several [potential] players. There’s a chance we sign all of them or none of them or somewhere in between, and that probably has an effect on what happens with Jamie Paterson.

“I’d say at the moment the door is not completely shut, but there are other things which are probably a priority at the moment and we will see what happens in all those scenarios.”

Williams said at the end of last season he wanted to keep Paterson as well as fellow experienced players Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton, who both signed new Swansea deals.

“For me to say we are holding a place [for Paterson] indefinitely in the squad and in of budget... a long period of time has elapsed since I made that statement,” Williams added.

“He is a fabulous guy, one of my favourite guys I have ever worked with, and he is a fantastic footballer. But there are a lot of things that are now bubbling away that would have a direct effect on whether that offer is still on the table.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Ruben Providence is training with Swansea City this week as the Championship club assess whether to offer the former Under-21 winger a contract.

Providence, 23, featured as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s friendly win over Rio Ave.

Providence is a TSV Hartberg player, but has been allowed to spend time at Swansea and Championship new boys Oxford United this summer.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams is in the market for two wide players and has been impressed by Providence’s impact.

However, the Swans are also working on potential deals for a number of other wingers.

It remains to be seen, therefore, whether they will push ahead with a move for Providence.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Swansea City player and director Mel Nurse is to be honoured by having a bar named after him at the Swansea.com stadium.

The refurbished Riverside Lounge within the stadium's East Stand will be named the Mel Nurse Bar for the 2024/25 season.

Former Wales centre-half Nurse, 86, made more than 250 appearances for the Swans and later played a key role as a club director, including saving the Swans from insolvency in 2002.

He led the consortium that acquired the the club from then-owner Tony Petty.

The move - ed by the Swansea Former Players’ Association and the ers’ Trust - pays homage to the old Mel Nurse Bar, which was situated by the North Bank at the club’s former Vetch Field home.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Unless Swansea City add to their tally of summer gs this week, Luke Williams’ squad for the trip to Middlesbrough will almost pick itself.

While no definitive timescales have been given, it seems injuries suffered by the likes of Andy Fisher, Joe Allen and Josh Ginnelly will see them ruled out of the Championship’s opening weekend.

It is a decent bet that Williams’ first XI of 2024-25 will be something close to the one which started Saturday’s pre-season win over Rio Ave.

That means Lawrence Vigouroux will be in goal, with Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling and Josh Tymon making up a back four, with Williams’ options in that department desperately thin.

With Allen doubtful, Matt Grimes, Jay Fulton and Goncalo Franco are likely to begin in midfield with Eom Ji-Sung and Liam Cullen likely to retain their places.

Azeem Abdulai may start again, too, though Ronald will push for a start if he is ed fit.

So what does that leave on the bench?

Teenager Evan Watts or Nathan Broome will be back-up keeper as things stand. Then come the likes of Kristian Pedersen and Nathan Tjoe-A-On – both of whom were sent out on loan last January – plus youngster Filip Lissah and veteran Kyle Naughton.

Ollie Cooper offers some experience, while new recruit Zan Vipotnik will hope for a Swansea debut having met his new team-mates this week.

With nine substitutes required in the Championship, under-21 players Liam Smith, Dan Watts and Josh Thomas are also in contention for a spell on first-team duty.

Image source, Huw Evans agency

Head coach Luke Williams insists he has a “healthy” Swansea City squad, despite being without some key players.

Williams says veteran midfielder Joe Allen is “on course” with his rehabilitation after a toe injury.

“He had a medium term length injury and is rehabilitating really well,” said Williams.

Like Allen, midfielder Josh Ginnelly and goalkeeper Andrew Fisher were not involved in the friendly win over Rio Ave last Saturday.

“From when I ed the club, I’ve not seen him [Ginnelly]  kick a ball in anger, but he’s continuing to progress well with the medical team,” added Williams.

“Andrew Fisher is a shame because he picked this up on the tour and nothing could be done about that.

“He’s kicked the ball in a strange way and he felt a pain. We now know it’s going to be more extensive than that.

“Overall, I think we have to say we are a healthy group and there aren’t so many injuries for us to be alarmed about."

Meanwhile Williams is positive about winger Ronald returning from a hamstring issue, possibly in time for Saturday’s Championship opener at Middlesbrough.

“Ronald is going to be very close, we are having to reign him in a little bit, he’s a machine, he wants to go, we have to make sure he comes back good and ready because he's a very important player for us," said Williams.