Swansea City

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Luke Williams says he is excited by the qualities Josh Ginnelly will offer his Swansea City team as the forward gets set for a summer of rehabilitation work.

Ginnelly has not played since last September after suffering a ruptured Achilles.

The 27-year-old was just starting to establish himself as a Swansea player when injury struck during the win over Sheffield Wednesday last September.

Ginnelly was making just his seventh Swans appearance – and second league start – having ed on a free transfer from Heart of Midlothian last summer.

After months of gym work, former Lincoln, Walsall and Preston player Ginnelly recently returned to training on the grass at Swansea’s training ground.

And while there is no chance of Ginnelly featuring this season, Swansea head coach Williams is looking forward to having another pacy player at his disposal in 2024-25.

“He has been out with the medical team on the grass so that’s encouraging - all the early markers are good,” Williams said.

“He will be continuing through the summer now to be ready for a pre-season and then he can show us what he is all about. I have not seen him yet so I am excited.

“He has explosive power and athleticism so that’s exciting. Let’s see how he recovers and then he can show us in pre-season.”

Ginnelly will give Swansea a welcome option on the flanks.

A squad which is already short of wide players could soon be further depleted with Przemyslaw Placheta due to become a free agent this summer - as things stand - and Jamal Lowe’s loan from Bournemouth drawing to a close.

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Luke Williams has heaped praise on Joe Allen amid continued uncertainty over whether the midfielder will remain at Swansea City.

Allen, 34, is one of a number of Swans players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

The former Wales star has impressed when fit since returning to boyhood club Swansea on a two-year deal in 2022, but has been hindered by a succession of injury issues.

Allen is not expected to play again in this campaign after picking up a toe problem during the defeat to Queens Park Rangers on 1 April.

When asked about Allen’s contract situation, Williams said: “I picked him a lot. I think he played incredibly for me. I really enjoying working with him.

“Let’s see what happens between now and the end of the season.

“He has nothing to prove to anyone. We all know how brilliant he is and what he means to us.”

Allen has scored two goals in 23 appearances – including 10 starts - in all competitions this season.

Last term he scored once in 28 Swansea appearances, 18 of which were starts.

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A season to forget at Swansea City is finishing with something of a flourish, with Luke Williams’ side chasing a fourth straight victory at Norwich City next Saturday.

Swansea won just one of their first seven Championship games after Williams was named head coach in early January.

Since then they have won six, drawn two and lost three of 11 league outings, form which over the course of a campaign would lead to a play-off place.

Strong form at the end of one season does not offer any guarantee about what the next campaign will bring, of course.

Swansea know that all too well, having finished 2022-23 in style under Russell Martin before losing their way this term.

But having pulled clear of the second-tier relegation scrap courtesy of their recent good run, Williams’ team are trending in the right direction.

“I think the fans are seeing in the last performances that we have a good team and a good manager,” centre-back Harry Darling said in the wake of Saturday’s 4-0 triumph at Huddersfield Town.

“We are looking forward to next season - we feel we can be a real competitor next season.”

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A trip to Carrow Road is, on paper, the toughest assignment Swansea have faced in a while.

Norwich have not lost in 14 league games on their own patch, a run which stretches back to 5 November.

Darling says David Wagner’s side will provide a “good test” for the improving Swans.

“They are in the play-offs but we want to spoil their party a little bit, so we’ll go there with a strong belief and try to put together another strong performance,” he said.

“We can’t let the season fizzle out. If we did that, we’d be letting ourselves down and the fans down.”

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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After two clean sheets in their first 15 league matches under Luke Williams, Swansea City have three in their last three.

Williams’ management team take pride in various statistics supplied by analysts which suggest that defensively, Swansea are a side on the up.

Before Saturday’s 4-0 win at Huddersfield Town, for instance, Swansea were allowing opponents an average of just over six es per spell in possession before a challenge was made by one of Williams’ players.

That made the Welsh side the best in the division in that particular category.

It should be noted, of course, that in their last three games, Swansea have faced clubs who have endured difficult seasons in Stoke City, Rotherham United and the Terriers.

But then again, Swansea have had a traumatic campaign too.

There is a big summer ahead for Williams, sporting director Paul Watson and chairman Andy Coleman as they attempt to ensure that 2024-25 is a more enjoyable season than this one has been.

But regardless of the opponents faced, three successive shutouts is a positive sequence for a Swansea team who were sliced open all too often in the early part of Williams’ reign.

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In their last 11 league fixtures, Swansea have conceded eight goals, an average of 0.72 goals a game.

In their 33 Championship outings before that this season, there were 54 goals against at an average of 1.6 per game.

The marked change goes some way to explaining why only three of Swansea’s last 11 matches have ended in defeat, with six victories during that run which have seen Williams’ men pull clear of the relegation scrap.

“It’s three clean sheets on the bounce now,” centre-back Harry Darling said after the Huddersfield triumph.

“As a defensive unit we probably haven’t got enough of them this year.”

Darling will get no arguments there.

What happens at the end of one season may not have that great an impact on what goes on at the start of a new campaign.

But if Swansea can reproduce their recent defensive form with any sort of regularity next term, they will give themselves a chance of achieving something.

As it stands, Leeds United have the best defensive record in this season’s Championship, having conceded just 34 goals in 43 league outings.

That is an average of 0.79 goals per game – more than Swansea have averaged in their last 11 games.

Williams would be entitled to see that as an encouraging sign.

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One of the big talking points of the past few days has been the decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards next season.

It has been met with fierce criticism from EFL and non-league clubs, who believe they will be denied potentially lucrative replays against higher-profile opponents.

The EFL says the new format was "agreed solely between the Premier League and FA (Football Association)" - but the FA says discussions have been going on for "well over a year" and insists "all parties accepted" replays could not continue.

Swansea City head coach Luke Williams has experience of coaching in the lower leagues, at Notts County, MK Dons and Swindon Town.

“There’s going to be a debate either way and I’m not sure where I sit,” Williams said when he was asked about the scrapping of FA Cup replays.

“From one point of view, fixture congestion and the intensity of the games is demanding for a lot of clubs.

“The other argument would be the excitement of a replay or you get drawn away to a giant, you get a draw and you bring them back to your stadium if you’re a smaller club.

“There’s two sides to the argument and I don’t know whether I’m on either side of the fence.”

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Swansea City head coach Luke Williams says club great Leighton James would have been proud of their performance in beating Huddersfield Town 4-0.

The Swans’ Championship triumph in Yorkshire on Saturday came a day after James – the former Wales and Burnley winger – died at the age of 71.

James helped his local club Swansea rise from the third division to the first in a period where he played some of his best football as part of the meteoric rise under manager John Toshack.

“One of the things we spoke about in the changing room was that Leighton would have been really pleased with that performance,” Williams said after the win at Huddersfield.

“I think he would have been proud of the players, who played for his club in the spirit that he would expect him to.

“He has a huge status at the club. That’s why the club is wonderful because you have people who are associated with the club whether you’re on the pitch or not.

“When you can create legends, you know you’re a proper football club. I hope he would be proud and I hope his family is proud of the way the boys represented the club today.”

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Luke Williams says he trusts his squad to deliver for Swansea City despite the fact a number of players could soon be leaving the club.

Swansea have seven senior players whose contracts are due to expire this summer.

Of those, Jamie Paterson, Liam Cullen and Liam Walsh are likely to be involved at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Head coach Williams also has six loan players - Carl Rushworth, Bashir Humphreys, Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr and Jamal Lowe – who will bid farewell to Swansea in just over a fortnight’s time.

When asked whether having so many players who may be coming to the end of their time in Wales could be an issue, Williams said: “It’s a very good question because that is potentially a very big problem.

“That’s for me to manage. Fortunately, we have a lot of professional guys. I trust there’s a group of players in there who want to perform.”

After a season of struggle, Swansea are all but safe in the Championship having moved nine points clear of the relegation places thanks to last weekend’s win over Rotherham United.

As his side prepare to face a Huddersfield side who are currently in the bottom three, Williams says Swansea owe it to the rest of the division “to play the game correctly and apply ourselves correctly”.

“It’s not just Huddersfield that are fighting, it’s several other clubs, so we have a responsibility to the competition to make sure that we turn up right,” he added.

“There’s plenty of motivation in the group to go and put on a good performance.

“I am confident we will get that. It’s a big game for us, to test if we are going to try to move forward or make the same mistakes.”

After Huddersfield, Swansea face a testing trip to Norwich City before a final-day home game against Millwall.

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Swansea City look like being in the market for a host of new gs once again this summer, and head coach Luke Williams says transfer work is well under way.

Swansea go to Huddersfield Town on Saturday having all but secured their Championship status courtesy of back-to-back home wins over Stoke City and Rotherham United.

And while Williams is keen to finish a difficult campaign with something of a flourish, he already has half an eye on next season.

“We have had some very good meetings with the recruitment team,” he said.

“Step by step we try to narrow down a long list of players who potentially are targets for us.”

As things stand, Swansea look almost certain to be in the market for a goalkeeper this summer, as well as two full-backs and possibly a central defender.

They will also look to strengthen in the centre of midfield, out wide and up front.

“I think we all have to be really excited about trying to get a really competitive group of players together, seeing if we can have an identity, a way of playing, and see where that takes us,” Williams added.

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Swansea City head coach Luke Williams says Joe Allen and Przemyslaw Placheta are unlikely to play again this season.

Midfielder Allen, 34, has been out with a toe injury since 1 April, while winger Placheta, 26, has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury at Sheffield Wednesday on 29 March.

Williams fears that like veteran defender Kyle Naughton, who has a hamstring injury, Allen and Placheta will not play an part in Swansea’s three remaining games in 2023-24.

“Joe is progressing well, no hiccups so far, but still has a way to go,” Williams said. “More than likely [his season is finished].

“Przemy has some complications in of getting very accurate from scans and ultrasounds. Most likely [it is the end of his season].”

Allen, Placheta and Naughton are among the Swansea players who, as things stand, are out of contract this summer, with talks over their futures ongoing.

There is some good news from the treatment room going into Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield Town, with centre-back Nathan Wood back in contention having missed wins over Stoke City and Rotherham United with a calf problem.

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Saturday's trip to Huddersfield Town in the Championship will no doubt stir memories of Swansea City’s first ever Wembley success, in the Autoglass Trophy final 30 years ago.

Frank Burrows’ Swans beat the Terriers 3-1 on penalties at the old Wembley Stadium after the game had finished 1-1 in extra time. Huddersfield were managed at the time by Neil Warnock.

The 30th anniversary was celebrated by the club during the recent 1-0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers, with players donning a retro kit reminiscent of the one worn in 1994.

John Cornforth, who captained that team, was one of the former players presented to the crowd before the QPR game.

“It's much appreciated what the club has done, it's been 30 years,” Cornforth told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“I was the first captain to lead the Swans out at Wembley, scored a goal [in the penalty shootout], won man of the match and lifted the trophy, it's what dreams are made of.

“I've always said it's the forgotten team, when you look at when they got in the Premier League, they've done ever so well. You also look at the stadium now compared to what we used to play at, the Vetch.

“I was very proud to captain that side. I was very ionate and proud to pull on the Swansea shirt."

But Cornforth’s overriding memory of that April afternoon is what happened after the match.

“Leaving Membury services in my boxer shorts," he added.

“Swansea didn't have much money in those days, so we had to stop off at the services with the fans and I lost my shirt, my shoes, my tros and my tie and I had to walk back on the bus in my boxer shorts.

“Thankfully there was no camera phones around in those days”.

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Swansea City will head to Austria this summer as Luke Williams’ pre-season plans begin to take shape.

The Swans are keen for a settled summer having seen last year’s preparations affected by managerial uncertainty.

Russell Martin’s protracted departure for Southampton and Michael Duff’s subsequent confirmation as his replacement came just 24 hours before players returned to training.

Swansea will hope they can hit the ground running going into Williams’ first full campaign, with details of pre-season in the process of being finalised.

Williams’ squad will spend a week in Austria with two games being lined up as part of the time away.

The former Notts County boss is keen for an intense period abroad before returning a week before the Championship campaign kicks off on 10 August.

Swansea are likely to squeeze in a home friendly the week before their competitive return.

Williams - Martin's former assistant at Swansea - was named as Duff's successor in January and itted it was not ideal to be introducing new ideas without a pre-season, describing it as putting the "wings on a plane after it took off".

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Swansea City are waiting on results of a scan to see if Przemyslaw Placheta will play again this season.

And his fitness could be a factor in a decision on the wideman’s future.

Placheta suffered a hamstring injury in the Good Friday draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

There had been hopes of a speedy return only for a further problem to be discovered.

Swans boss Luke Williams is now waiting to see if the 26-year-old will be available before the end of the campaign.

Swansea’s final game comes against Millwall at the Swansea.com Stadium on 4 May.

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Placheta has caught the eye since arriving at Swansea, making 10 appearances after the club took over the final months of his contract at Norwich.

He has stated he would be interested in his extending his Swansea stay beyond the summer.

It remains to be seen whether the Poland international will be offered a new deal.

“It’ll be a discussion around the table with all the people involved,” Williams said.

“Let’s get some more information what’s going on with the hamstring, see if we can get him back before the end of the season, if not let’s take it all into consideration and see how we feel.”

Williams is likely to give a further update before Saturday's trip to Huddersfield.

But he is already facing up to being without veteran defender Kyle Naughton for the remainder of the season, the 35-year-old having also picked up a hamstring problem.

Naughton suffered the injury during Swansea’s south Wales derby win over Cardiff last month, and Williams has conceded it will be difficult for the former Tottenham man to figure again this term.

With Naughton also among those out of contract, Williams says similar discussions will take place.

“When he got fit and on the pitch I was very happy with his performances, I thought he played excellent football for us and has a top mentality,” said Williams of Naughton, who has made more than 300 appearances for the club.

“It’s another discussion because every single decision has an impact on five other decisions and we have to balance everything up. It’s very complicated because we have six loans and many players out of contract, and we have to factor in if someone’s impossible to keep hold of. All of these things have to come into play.

“We’re in a situation of uncertainty with many things, but we have to try and everything together. It’s challenging, but it’s what we have to try and do.”

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Swansea City forward Josh Ginnelly is back on the training pitch as he continues his recovery from a season-ending injury.

Ginnelly, a summer g from Hearts, was ruled out of the majority of his first campaign in south Wales after rupturing his Achilles.

He posted on social media, external on Monday after completing a first day back on the grass since suffering the injury in last September's 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

There is still no prospect of the 27-year-old featuring before the end of the season and he is yet to resume full training following the first individual session.

But his return to the pitch is a significant step as he builds towards full fitness.

Ginnelly has been sidelined since long before Luke Williams arrived as Swans boss, having been predecessor Michael Duff's first g as head coach.

He made just eight appearances - including two league starts - before the injury, which came four days after scoring his first league goal for the club in the 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers.

A former Burnley and Preston player, Ginnelly's pace was seen as a key attribute after ing on a free following time in Scottish football with Hearts.

Williams has shown he is eager for greater pace in attack after utlising Brazilian winger Ronald and former Norwich wideman Przemyslaw Placheta since they signed during the January transfer window.

Placheta is currently injured himself having picked up a hamstring problem during the Easter fixtures, although Williams is hopeful he could return before the final day visit of Millwall on 4 May.

Joe Allen (toe) and Kyle Naughton (hamstring) are also all out with no firm timescale for their returns provided as yet.

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Head coach Luke Williams has challenged Swansea City to deliver a top-half Championship finish after victory over Rotherham United all but secured their second-tier status.

After a season of struggle, Swansea are nine points clear of the relegation places with only three games of 2023-24 remaining.

The Swans go to 22nd-placed Huddersfield Town next weekend, then face a testing trip to Norwich City before a final-day home game against Millwall.

Williams’ side are five points adrift of 12th-placed Bristol City in 14th – but the former Notts County boss says reaching the top half is possible.

"That's a good challenge,” he said. “Let’s go and make really good performances and see how many points we can pick up.

“At the end of it that (the top half) is quite a respectable performance maybe.”

Swansea dominated possession and territory against Rotherham but could not break down the EFL’s leakiest defence until Andy Rinomhota headed into his own net in the final quarter.

Williams acknowledges that his side must find greater cutting edge next season.

"We're nearly a good team, I feel,” he said.

"I need to continue to try and find solutions for the team, try to help them be more creative. I need to get the balance right because sometimes if you try to be creative, you leave the back door open and concede.

"Getting that balance is a huge challenge for me. But of course we need to get the right personnel who are going to thrive.

“We have a really big summer and then we can do something exciting.”