SWANSEA City failed in an audacious bid to sign £5 million Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline.

The Evening Post understands that megamoney City had agreed to loan their Ecuador international frontman to Swansea for a season with a view to a permanent deal.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers even got as far as holding talks with Caicedo, who would have been a remarkable addition to the club's attacking arsenal.

But Caicedo, who has 27 caps, was also attracting interest from around Europe after a proposed move to West Ham fell through last month.

And Swansea's hopes of pulling off what would have been a spectacular transfer coup were dashed when Caicedo signed a season-long loan deal with Spanish top-flight side Levante.

The fact that Swansea even got close to landing the 21-year-old is further evidence of Rodgers's impressive contacts.

The former Chelsea reserve-team manager is well connected at Eastlands having come close to joining Roberto Mancini's backroom staff earlier this summer.

And that link almost saw Swansea recruiting a player who City paid £5.2 million rising to £7 million for back in 2008.

Signed from Swiss side FC Basel by Sven-Goran Eriksson, Caicedo has made only a limited impact in Manchester, scoring four goals in 27 appearances.

A powerfully built forward with pace, he spent the first part of last season on loan with Sporting Lisbon before a successful loan stint playing in La Liga for Malaga.

Having helped keep them up, Caicedo is back in Spain with newly promoted Levante.

After his West Ham move fell through at the last minute, the 6ft 1in star also attracted attention from Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

Rodgers had been optimistic of doing a deal for Caicedo after Swansea were priced out of moves for Danny Graham and Tamas Priskin.

Another target, Leroy Lita, was told he could not leave by current club Middlesbrough despite being on the fringe of the first team at the Riverside.

Rodgers must now restart his search for attacking reinforcements when the emergency loan window opens on September 7.

He has not given up hope of signing West Ham's Frank Nouble, but he has made it clear that he also wants a more experienced player.

Meanwhile, Francisco Sandaza, the Dundee United striker who had been linked with Swansea, yesterday signed a one-year deal with Brighton.

The Welsh football association (FAW) has managed to keep Cardiff City and Swansea City under its jurisdiction despite a strong push by the English Football Association to claim the two clubs, reports the Western Mail. The English FA wants to absorb the two clubs to resolve disciplinary matters and for other football governance issues. However, FAW felt that this was a bit of muscle flexing by the English FA and use the UEFA rules to fight for their stance.

The details of the dialogue so far were revealed during a FAW council meeting in Cardiff last week. As an unnamed FAW member put it, “We’re led to believe this was an example of England trying to flex their muscles, but not getting their way. UEFA rules quite firmly dictate that clubs come under the jurisdiction of the Association where they are domiciled. In the case of Cardiff and Swansea, that is Wales. As such, England were told in no uncertain terms the two clubs must remain under our umbrella ... at least for the time being. We can’t have anybody trying to dictate to us. As such, the FAW hierarchy who stood up to them received a round of applause from every single one of us, and rightly so.”

The issue has come up because many clubs in the English system feel that Cardiff and Swansea get an easy ride with the Welsh FA especially in regard to matters of player discipline. Interestingly, the Bluebirds and Swans feel that they get unduly harsh treatment from the agency. So, in a sense there is interest from multiple parties for a change in the current arrangement. FAW and English FA have agreed to have a “collaborative dialogue” over the next twelve months to work out the matter of jurisdiction.

Also, if either of the teams is promoted they will have to go with the English FA. The Premier League is introducing new rules stipulating that teams can only play in the competition if they are affiliated to the English FA. As the FAW member said, “Under those circumstances, and Cardiff are pushing hard for promotion this year, it would be hard for us to stand in their way.”

SWANSEA City have taken 6ft 6in former Hibernian keeper Yves Makabu- Makalambay on a week's trial.

The 24-year-old Congo international is a free agent and would therefore be able to sign even though the summer transfer window closed last night.

A former Chelsea youth player, Makalambay worked with Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers at Stamford Bridge.

He once made the bench at the Blues but left for Hibs three years ago.

He has since made 64 appearances for the Edinburgh club, but lost his place at Easter Road at the start of last season after the signing of former Millwall keeper Graham Stack.

And when Hibs recruited another stopper, Graeme Smith, in last winter's transfer window, the writing was on the wall for Makalambay.

Released at the end of last season, he made his international debut over the summer but now finds himself without a club.

FORMER Reading youth captain Chris Davies admitted he could not turn down the chance to be reunited with Brendan Rodgers after becoming Swansea City's match analyst.

Davies, a one-time Wales Under-19 international, switched to sports science after realising he would not make the grade as a Football League player.

He has spent time working under Bobby Gould with New Zealand club Hawkes Bay United, and was set to join another Championship club this summer until Rodgers took over at the Liberty.

"As soon as Brendan got the Swansea job I was straight on the phone to him," Davies revealed.

"He taught me my trade, not just as a player but also as a person.

"He taught all the young players life lessons as well.

"By that I mean how to conduct yourself in a professional and responsible manner off the pitch."

Davies says Rodgers is a joy to work for because he understands the benefits of sports science and match analysis.

"Believe me, there are still some real dinosaurs out there who would be the ultimate challenge to work for."

Davies, 25, takes over from Nelson Jardim, who followed Paulo Sousa to Leicester.

SWANSEA City will look to the emergency loan window for reinforcements after a frustrating deadline day brought no new signings.

Swansea's most significant piece of business as the summer transfer window closed was to fend off a bid thought to be worth around £2 million from Leicester for defender Ashley Williams.

Brendan Rodgers's attempt to add another centre-back came to nothing after Motherwell turned down an offer in the region of £250,000 for Mark Reynolds.

And the Swansea boss also missed out on two Premier League centre-forwards, one of whom was long-time target Frank Nouble of West Ham United.

It is thought Rodgers could yet go back in for both strike targets when the window for emergency loan deals opens in a week's time as neither moved anywhere else yesterday.

And the same could be the case with Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury, who Swansea hoped to unveil last week until an injury crisis at the Emirates delayed a proposed loan switch to the Liberty.

Rodgers also hopes to conclude a deal for Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien very soon after his successful pre-season trial. The Northern Irishman was left frustrated by Swansea's lack of joy yesterday — although he was delighted to see Williams stick around.

Rodgers's predecessor, Paulo Sousa, attempted to prise the Wales man away from the Liberty but Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins insisted Williams was not for sale.

And Rodgers said: "I don't think there's any need for Ashley to leave Swansea.

"It's similar to the Darren Pratley situation in that he doesn't need to leave unless he is going to go to a Premier League club.

"He is a talented player and he is a big part of my plans, and I'm happy that the club have knocked back the bid."

The only other significant interest for one of Swansea's players came from Brighton for striker Shefki Kuqi, but the League One club did not make a concrete bid.

As a result Kuqi remains one of only two fit frontmen on Swansea's books alongside Stephen Dobbie.

And that will be a disappointment for Rodgers given that he highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements as soon as he took over the reins in pre-season.

JAMES Collins admits he is relishing the prospect of lining up alongside Ashley Williams for Wales in Montenegro on Friday.

The Aston Villa defender is included in John Toshack's squad for the Euro 2012 qualification opener after recovering from calf trouble.

With West Ham's Danny Gabbidon again missing because of long-standing groin problems, Collins could feature in a central defensive trio with Williams and Craig Morgan of Preston.

And he is looking forward to the possibility of renewing his relationship with the Swansea City man, who was the subject of a failed deadline-day bid from Leicester.

"Ever since Ash came in (to the Wales side) he has been spot on, every game he's been superb," said the ex-Cardiff City defender.

"Ashley's a great player. I don't think he's ever let anyone down when he's played for Wales. He's been good every game and I certainly enjoy playing alongside him.

"I've known Craig a long time — I was in the under-21s with Craig and he's a great player.

"He's got a move up to Preston now and I think he's doing really well up there. Those players have done really well and hopefully they can continue."

Collins and Gabbidon have been regularly missing for Wales over recent seasons.

Gabbidon has not played international football since last November's friendly win over Scotland, while Collins has missed the last two internationals, against Croatia and Luxembourg.

Williams, in particular, has impressed in their absence, and Toshack this week warned the Premier League pair that they are no longer automatic first-choice selections.

"I'd have no qualms sticking with Craig Morgan and Ashley Williams," he said.

"James and Danny are proven Premier League players and clearly the squad is a lot stronger if they are with us and are 100 per cent fit.

"They've had a lot of problems but they are two very talented players.

"But, as we have not had either on a regular basis, we have had to live without them and Ashley and Craig have both really shone over the last 12 to 18 months."

Collins had been struggling with injury since returning to Villa for pre-season.

But he made his comeback in his club's Europa League defeat by Rapid Vienna last Thursday and completed another 90 minutes in Sunday's Premier League victory over Everton.

"I've played two games now and I'm raring to go," said the 27-year-old.

"Every game is a must-win — you want to be winning football games. We went to Montenegro a year ago and they gave us a hell of a game over there, so we've got to be sharp and take the confidence from the last game when we beat Luxembourg.

"Nearly all the lads have got around 20 caps now, they're all playing first-team football, so this is a big qualifying campaign for us."

ASHLEY WILLIAMS flies out to Montenegro with Wales today still a Swansea City player after dramatic last minute moves for the defender were rebuffed.

Highly-rated Williams was the subject of a £2m bid from Leicester just hours before the transfer window closed – before a sensational 11th hour approach from Scottish giants Celtic.

But Swans chairman Huw Jenkins blocked the two attempts to lure the talented defender away from the Liberty Stadium with a firm hands off message, insisting: “The player is not for sale.”

Williams was at Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan training base preparing for Friday’s crunch Euro 2012 qualifying match in Podgorica with the rest of John Toshack’s squad while the battle for his services went on behind the scenes.

Toshack will want Williams, a key man in Montenegro, fully focussed on the Euro opener and will be glad the transfer business is out of the way.

Toshack will weigh up whether to pick Williams at the back next to James Collins at the Gradski Stadium, with centre back Craig Morgan a doubt after picking up an ankle injury and Danny Gabbidon also out.

Toshack had previously pencilled in Williams for a holding midfield role, but his hand may be forced because of injuries to others.

Swansea stood firm yesterday in the face of frantic efforts to prise away one of their star players by first former Swans boss Paulo Sousa, then Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Premier League pair West Brom and Wigan had also been linked with a move for the 26-year-old but it was Sousa who first tabled a concrete offer for Williams, understood to be in the region of £2m.

That was quickly rejected by the Swans, with Jenkins releasing a statement declaring his intention to keep hold of the 21-cap international.

But the Western Mail understands Jenkins then had to fend off an official enquiry from SPL outfit Celtic, who had identified Williams as the ideal candidate to solve their defensive problems.

Celtic had already had an offer to take Newcastle United’s Steven Taylor on loan turned down earlier in the day and were ready to turn to Williams – only to balk at Swansea’s valuation of the defender.

It is thought Swansea would want as much as £4m for a player who still has three years remaining on his Liberty contract and is seen by boss Brendan Rodgers as a key part of his plans. Williams joined from Stockport County in 2008 for a then-club record £400,000 and the Swans paid a further £100,000 to cancel a sell-on clause in the deal.

Leicester’s offer for Williams was believed to include an option of a players plus cash deal, but that was of no interest to the Swans despite Rodgers failing to add to his squad on deadline day. Rodgers will now wait for the loan window before continuing his attempts to land a striker but a move for Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds is dead in the water.

Motherwell boss Craig Brown said: “There was a formal offer to the club from Swansea. But it was a low offer and not commensurate with Mark’s ability.

“He would agree that it was a poor-ish offer and is reinforced by the fact that I gather the personal terms offered to him were not too acceptable either.”

Skysports.com understands Swansea have rejected a bid from Championship rivals Leicester for Ashley Williams.

Foxes boss Paulo Sousa is keen to be reunited with the Wales international having worked with the central defender during his time in charge of Swansea.

Williams is regarded as one of the best young defenders outside the Premier League and has been linked with a host of clubs.

Sousa is looking to bolster his defence before the transfer window slams shut and he is believed to have tabled an offer for Williams.

However, Swansea have rejected Leicester'sovertures as they look to keep Williams at the Liberty Stadium.

SWANSEA City are poised to make a shock £250,000 move for highly rated Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds before today's transfer deadline.

Brendan Rodgers has decided late in the summer window that he needs cover at the back — and 23-year-old Reynolds looks like being his man.

But whether the Swansea manager will have any success in his bid to sign two forwards was in some doubt last night.

Rodgers has targeted West Ham youngster Frank Nouble and another more established Premier League frontman.

One or both deals could yet come off today, but it could be that Swansea's search for strikers restarts when the emergency loan window opens in a week's time.

It may also be the case that their bid to sign Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury is postponed until the emergency market opens.

Swansea are still waiting for the green light from the Gunners to finalise a loan switch amid claims in Yorkshire that Leeds remain in the hunt for Lansbury's signature.

The deal that looks most likely to happen would see Reynolds arriving to provide competition in central defence and at right-back.

The former Scotland Under-21 international — who is tipped to win a first senior cap soon — has been expected to leave Motherwell all summer.

Reynolds has only this season to run on his current deal, and boss Craig Brown recently admitted that the club's recruitment policy depended entirely on his sale.

Scottish giants Rangers offered around £800,000 for Reynolds two years ago, but the bid was turned down because Motherwell were then looking for more than £1 million.

With his contract set to expire, Reynolds's value has plummeted and Swansea believe he will mature into a high-class performer given time at the Liberty. He already has more than 170 senior games under his belt having broken into the Motherwell side as a teenager, and he missed only one match last season.

Newcastle United were reportedly showing an interest in Reynolds earlier this year, while Fulham, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven have all been touted as potential suitors in the past.

Reynolds, who has captained Motherwell in the past, would provide a welcome option at the back for Rodgers, who does not have a host of defensive alternatives.

With Angel Rangel injured, Swansea's resources already look a little thin, Albert Serran having been pressed into emergency right-back duty before Rodgers gave former Wrexham man Neil Taylor his first Championship start in last weekend's win over Burnley.

Reynolds, who has featured in Europe for Motherwell already this season, played what looks like being his last game for the Scottish Premier League club against Celtic on Sunday.

At the start of pre-season, former Scotland boss Brown admitted the time had come for Reynolds to leave Fir Park.

"He deserves the best move he can get and the club is supportive of his move because it would benefit the club financially, and also because it would benefit Mark," Brown said.

"He has been such a terrific servant here."

Ideally Reynolds will arrive at the Liberty today alongside the two forwards and Lansbury, although the chances of every deal coming off before the 6pm deadline look remote.

As for pre-season trialist Kemy Agustien, Swansea expect to secure his signature at some point early next month

GARRY Monk reckons Swansea City have ticked most boxes in their opening spell under Brendan Rodgers.

But the club captain is convinced Swansea will improve when phase two of the Rodgers reign begins after the international break.

Swansea have won two and lost two of their first four Championship fixtures, while triumphs over Barnet and Tranmere have seen them through to the Carling Cup third round.

Rodgers's men sit just above halfway in the early-season league table, but the feeling is that they will spend this campaign looking up rather than down.

"I still think we will be at our best after this break," Monk says.

"Our football fitness is still building up. I'm not just talking about running, I mean making angles and keeping the ball.

"It's hard work and we are not at our peak yet, but I think that will come over the next couple of weeks.

"We might need a bit of a second wind at Leeds after a fortnight without a game, but I think through September we will really hit our stride."

It is not as if Swansea have been off the pace so far.

All four of their league outings have offered something to be pleased about, with Preston overwhelmed and Burnley deservedly beaten at the Liberty.

How Swansea ended up losing having dominated at Norwich City remains a mystery, while the opening-day defeat at Hull had its bright spots.

"We should have more than six points," Monk adds.

"Our performances have been there in every game really.

"There was maybe only the second half at Hull, after we went 2-0 down, when we were not quite where we should have been.

"But we are learning all the time and we look a real threat going forward, and I'm sure there's more to come from this team.

"If we can keep playing the way we did in the first half against Burnley, I don't think there will be many teams who can cope with us."

Swansea tore into the much-fancied Clarets, Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair wreaking havoc down the flanks and David Cotterill offering another threat behind Stephen Dobbie.

Had their finishing been sharper, Swansea could have buried Burnley inside half an hour.

And Monk believes Rodgers's players should not get too carried away despite their new-found attacking verve.

"The way we keep the ball, I think we can do what we did in the first half against Burnley for 90 minutes," the centre-back says.

"But because we are so exciting going forward now, we seem to think that we have got to score every time we get the ball.

"We can control things, playing 20 or 30 passes with ease, and then we can pick our moment to attack."

Swansea's cause should soon be aided by at least a couple of new signings, with Rodgers working hard to add goals to his squad before the transfer window closes this afternoon.

"I think we have got enough wingers, but apart from that we would be happy to see the gaffer strengthen every position," Monk says.

"What's important is that we get the right kind of personalities, not just good players.

"Scott Sinclair has slotted in straightaway and we want more like him."

BRENDAN RODGERS hailed his wing wonders as Swansea City made it two from two at the Liberty.

Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair turned on the style to terrorise Burnley yesterday, the latter grabbing his debut Championship goal for the Swans as the Clarets came unstuck.

And boss Rodgers reckons the two fliers can wreak havoc in the division as the Swans continue to impress under the new man.

Rodgers said: “They are two players that can really cause problems in this league and we give them the freedom to show why they earn their money.

“That’s the beauty of system we play, they are really difficult players to contend with.

“But the work behind them is just as important because we are passing the ball with penetration and in the first half we were great value. You sensed the supporters were enjoying it. The important thing for us was the creativity because I want us to be offensive.”

Rodgers insisted his team passed a big test by seeing off a side tipped to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

But he admitted he was left disappointed by referee Steve Tanner’s decision to book Darren Pratley for diving in the box – the midfielder going on to see red. “I thought it was a penalty,” said Rodgers.

BRENDAN Rodgers is hoping to make a dramatic swoop for two Premier League strikers before tomorrow's transfer deadline.

The Swansea City manager remains optimistic that he can tie up a loan deal for West Ham's teenage frontman Frank Nouble.

And he is also looking to secure the services of a more established centre-forward who has not previously been linked with the Liberty.

The Evening Post understands Tamas Priskin, of Ipswich, and Watford's Danny Graham — who has picked up an injury anyway — will not be moving to Swansea because the asking prices are too high.

And Middlesbrough's Leroy Lita has also been ruled out of contention because Gordon Strachan is unwilling to let the former Reading player leave.

Rodgers is desperate to add more attacking power to a Swansea squad who scored only 40 goals in the Championship last season.

And if he lands his targets, it could be that Shefki Kuqi heads in the opposite direction amid interest from a clutch of League One clubs.

It is understood a proposed move to Huddersfield Town fell through earlier this month, and the Terriers have now signed Crystal Palace targetman Alan Lee instead.

But there are still a number of third-tier sides who are interested in Kuqi's signature and a move could go through before the summer transfer window closes at 5pm tomorrow.

By then Swansea may also have a secured the signing of Arsenal's Henri Lansbury, although there will be no panic if the midfielder does not arrive in time because he could join when the emergency loan window opens next week.

And Swansea are in no desperate rush to finalise a deal with pre-season trialist Kemy Agustien because they should be able to recruit him after the window closes as a free agent.

Swansea had thought originally they needed to complete Agustien's signature during the window, but it now appears that is not the case.

Apart from a possible move for Kuqi, no further exits look likely at this stage after Shaun MacDonald agreed a third loan spell with Yeovil over the weekend.

The midfielder penned a new two-year Swansea deal over the summer, but has rejoined the Glovers until January 3.

Cedric van der Gun, who admitted his future in Wales was uncertain during preseason, was absent from the weekend win over Burnley.

But the Dutch winger was missing as a result of a hamstring problem picked up at Tranmere last week and not because of a possible transfer.

THE SIGNS are that Swansea City are getting it right under Brendan Rodgers.

And don’t take my word for it. Just ask Marcel Desailly.

“This is a team that can get better and better,” was the verdict of the World Cup winner, an unlikely but nonetheless impressed spectator at the Liberty on Saturday as he undertakes his coaching badges in Wales.

“They secured the game well in the second half, but all the way through the game you could see the movement is there and they are tactically very well set up.

“They have a quality coach with a good background and I think this team could push on. I know the manager has not been in charge long, but I have been talking to him about how he sets up his players and you can definitely see he knows what he’s talking about – and it’s clearly working.”

That it is. While the words from the former France, Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea great are high praise indeed, no-one need tell Rodgers and his players that they are taking forward steps right now.

They would have come off the Liberty pitch not just with the three points courtesy of Scott Sinclair’s eighth-minute strike, but with a sense that things are really beginning to click.

Because, while there is plenty for Rodgers to work on and improve over the coming weeks and months, the side have already made leaps and bounds in such a short space of time.

It is not the first time Swansea have dominated and controlled the play on their own patch. But the difference from last year is this is dynamic domination, possession with penetration as Rodgers calls it.

In layman’s terms, Swansea battered Burnley.

At least certainly in the first half, a late rally from one of the pre-season favourites for promotion even gave Swansea the chance to show they’ve lost none of last year’s defensive solidness.

This was not passing for the sake of passing as Swansea were increasingly guilty of last term, but passing with a purpose as their wide boys enjoyed themselves.

“They are difficult players to contend with,” said Rodgers of in-form and flying wingers Nathan Dyer and Sinclair.

“They are two players that can really cause problems in this league and we give them the freedom to show why they earn their money.

“That’s the beauty of the system we play – but it starts from behind with how we pass the ball.”

Helped no end by the deep-laying Mark Gower switching play and stretching Burnley, Darren Pratley doing what he does best in the middle of the park and David Cotterill making the most of his ability to spot the gap at the tip of the central three.

Pratley did not last the 90 here, though. If there was an argument whether the 48th-minute challenge from Dean Marney was in the box, there was no argument that it was a foul.

Yet out came Steve Tanner’s yellow, an error that was brought into focus when Pratley was rightly booked for a challenge on Mears 10 minutes later.

Pratley will now miss the trip to Leeds after the international break, but the short-term damage was limited when Mears was again done by Dyer and challenged too late as he had done on Sinclair earlier in the afternoon.

It gave the game a skewed finish, where Burnley pressed without overly troubling Swansea. But the hosts had already earned a lead to protect with a fabulous first half.

“I thought we were outstanding,” admitted Rodgers. “It was free-flowing until the game became a little bit broken because of the sendings-off. Of course, when you only get the one goal it can make it a wee bit hairy at the end – but we knew that persistence and resilience would be important against a team like Burnley, who will be up there at the end of the season.

“We should have had more, and they know that, that when the opportunities come we need to be ruthless. But the most important thing is our creativity and some of our play was very, very good.”

Indeed. even conservative counts show that Swansea got in behind Burnley 10 times in the first 45 minutes, the all-important one coming eight minutes in as Sinclair finished a lovely move involving six different players.

With Dyer skinning Danny Fox each time, Stephen Dobbie perhaps could have taken more advantage, while Pratley was denied by the crossbar and Sinclair by Burnley’s great Dane of a goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

A tale of chances not taken seems a familiar one in this corner of South Wales, but the creation of the chances in the first place is the important step forward from last term’s ultimate disappointment.

So if we are to believe the signs – and Desailly – why the big change? Is it all down to the manager.

“No, it’s not me,” he said. “It’s the players. I like to be offensive and creative and if anything that gives them the confidence to enjoy that, but within discipline. I wasn’t here last year so I can’t comment, but what I can say is that these players are enjoying working hard and the consequence of that is great performances.

“It was a great measure of that against a team that is going to be right up there at the end of the season. We have started well with four wins out of six in all competitions and I see growth every day in this group.

“But this was a real test for us – and we passed it.”

Of course, Rodgers knows his work is only just beginning as he talks of building a squad and excitement over success for the next two to three seasons.

Part of that squad building is expected to take place this week as the transfer window gets set to close, Rodgers claiming he is happy to do business.

And, after one success in Sinclair, Rodgers dropped a hint at just who he fancies.

“There was quite a nice moment where Scott went up against Jack Cork – two players who played under me at Chelsea,” he said. “To be fair to them, when I was reserve manager at Chelsea, a lot of players said they would play for me again in the future and that’s happened with Scott, with Jack at Watford, Ryan Bertrand at Reading.

“Now I’m just waiting on Didier Drogba.”

Perhaps Desailly can give him a nudge.

NEIL TAYLOR hopes he has shown Brendan Rodgers he can cope with the leap from Conference to Championship football as he aims for a first league start this afternoon.

Taylor was playing non-league just four months ago before sealing a summer switch from Wrexham, and is set to be thrown into action against Burnley today – a side that were playing Premier League football last term.

It is a leap few are able to make comfortably, but Taylor looks to have done enough in recent weeks to convince boss Rodgers he is worth a starting spot as he looks to cover the injury to full-back Angel Rangel.

Impressing as a second-half sub against Norwich last week, the 21-year-old slotted in simply enough against Tranmere for the midweek Carling Cup victory at Prenton Park and looks ready to occupy the left-back role with Alan Tate moving to the right flank.

And, although St Asaph-born Taylor admits a first start in the second tier would represent a big step up from Conference football, the Wales U21 international, capped once at senior level, says it is one he is capable of.

“Coming from Conference football was always going to mean a bit of a jump and there is obviously a big difference in the levels,” said Taylor, a Bosman signing for whom Swansea paid Wrexham a five-figure sum in compensation.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily harder because of that. I’ve been used to balls being lumped in the box, as we saw at Tranmere, and that is a tough school to grow up in for a young player coming through.

“I had to learn to cope with that and I’ve learned from it at a young age. Now I have to make the transition, but it’s something I’m confident I can do being at a young age and from my experience under Brian Flynn with Wales.

“Under Brian it is about playing football on the floor and that was one of the big reasons I wanted to come to Swansea because it’s quite similar and it’s a style I feel will bring out the best in me. Hopefully I will get the chance to show that.

“When I signed I was aiming to make the team because you have to aim high in your career.

“I know it will be tough because of the step and how well the team did last year, especially defensively, but all I can do is try and make the most of the chances when I get them.”

With Rangel expected out for at least another month, and Albert Serran not covering himself in glory as his replacement, Rodgers is expected to turn to Taylor whose pace and willingness to join in with attacks helps him slot in fairly easily to the Swans’ system.

And Taylor added: “It’s unfortunate to see Angel get injured but that’s football and that’s why you need strong squads. It means there could be an opening for me and hopefully I’ve put the thought in the manager’s head.”

STEPHEN DOBBIE says Swansea City will have to beat a side of Premiership quality if they are to go into the international break with a win.

This afternoon’s clash with Burnley at the Liberty Stadium is the Swans’ last game for two weeks due to international fixtures, with Ashley Williams and David Cotterill away with Wales in Montenegro.

After their unlucky defeat away at Norwich last weekend, Scottish striker Dobbie says a win before the enforced break is vital to get their league form back on track.

But Brian Laws’ Burnley will provide a stiff test at home for the Swans, having picked up two impressive wins over Nottingham Forest and Leicester City and a draw in their opening three fixtures.

They remain among the bookies’ favourites for automatic promotion from the Championship despite being relegated with just 30 points from the Premiership last season.

Dobbie said: “A good result against Burnley is very important, especially with international break coming up because we want to go into that off the back of a win.

“Burnley have had some really good results so far this season.

“They’ve got the Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo in, who has scored a lot of goals already. Chris Eagles is in there as well and he is a player who can cause teams a lot of problems.

“Burnley have got quite a few players who are Premiership class. It didn’t happen for the team in the Premier League, but they are still a very good side.”

Iwelumo had scored just once in 18 months for Wolverhampton Wanderers before his move to Burnley in the summer, but the 6ft 4in forward has found the net twice in his first three league games for the Clarets.

His goal against Paulo Sousa’s Leicester last weekend was the 100th of his career and helped Burnley to an impressive 3-0 win at Turf Moor.

Former Manchester United youngster Chris Eagles turned down a move to Rangers to sign a new deal with Burnley this week as he looks for an immediate return to the Premiership.

Burnley boss Laws said: “It’s great news for the fans and the football club because quite clearly he has the talent.

“I’m hoping that it will give everyone a lift. It shows there is good harmony here and good competition.”

Swansea have hit seven goals at the Liberty already, with Dobbie getting his first of the campaign in the emphatic 4-0 win over Preston North End.

Dobbie says the Swans’ home form will be key in their quest for a play-off spot, but insists he does not expect Burnley to take the cautious approach most other teams will when they travel to South Wales.

He added: “The home form was really good last year and we’ve got to continue that way.

“We’ve had a good start with the 4-0 win over Preston and a win in the Carling Cup, it’s just a matter of going out and playing our own way.

“Burnley will come to attack because they are playing very well at the moment.

“They’ve got good attacking options so they won’t be worried about having a go at us.

“We love to get forward in numbers, especially at home, so it should make for an exciting game.

“After the Norwich game the boys were very dejected because we played really well and didn’t get what we deserved. But, if we take the same mentality into Saturday’s game against Burnley, I’m sure we will get the right result.

“We played so well against Preston and took that to Norwich and it’s something we want to do for the rest of the campaign, play well at home use the momentum to go into the away games.

“We need to make the Liberty Stadium a fortress and give away nothing there.”

The 27-year-old has gone from the wilderness of last year, being loaned out to Blackpool, to becoming Swansea’s main striker for this campaign.

He proved his worth to the side in the midweek Carling Cup game against Tranmere Rovers when he helped to transform the Swans’ performance in the second half with an excellent display.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to add one or more strikers to his squad before the transfer window shuts and Dobbie says he would welcome the competition up front.

“The gaffer has said he’s looking to strengthen up front with Gorka (Pintado) injured and Craig Beattie out,” said Dobbie, who this week signed a new two-year contract to keep him at the club for the next three seasons.

“There’s only me and Shefki (Kuqi) here at the moment who are fit.

“It’s the same at any big club, if the gaffer can bring quality players in he is going to do it and we all want to see that.

“We are waiting to see what he will do in the transfer market, but I am sure it will be a major boost for the team.”

Swansea’s first transfer coup of the summer, Scott Sinclair, has been in sparkling form for his new club since arriving for £500,000 from Chelsea.

It leaves the Swans with a plethora of attacking midfielders, perfect for Dobbie, Kuqi and any strikers who arrive at the club over the next five days before the transfer window shuts.

“Scott’s come in and been a major boost for the squad.” said Dobbie. “We’ve got Scott, Nathan Dyer, (Darren) Pratley, (David) Cotterill, there are so many creative players in the team as a striker it is everything you want.

“Last season the gaffer was more defensive and we only scored 40 goals, when the new manager came in it was something he wanted us to work on.

“I’m sure we’ll get back on track and scoring goals this year.”

As the end of the transfer window edges closer, Swansea will be desperate to keep hold of star players like Ashley Williams and Darren Pratley, who have both attracted interest from other clubs in the past.

Dobbie added: “They are massive players for us, so we are all hoping there won’t be any bids for them and we can hold on to them because we need them in the team this season.”

SWANSEA CITY have let Shaun MacDonald join Yeovil Town on loan – just as Tom Butler was ruled out for four months.

Wales U21 international MacDonald last night completed a third loan switch to the League One side having spent the majority of last season at Huish Park.

And, having failed to break into boss Brendan Rodgers’ squad so far this season, the 21-year-old midfielder will stay in Somerset until January in a bid to gain further first-team experience.

MacDonald’s exit allows Rodgers more room for manoeuvre as he looks to name his 25-man senior squad on Tuesday when the transfer window closes. New Football League rules only permit clubs the use of 25 players over the age of 21, with the squad lists submitted next week only able to be revised in January.

Swansea are currently under the limit, but with Rodgers looking for at least three new signings, including 23-year-old Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien and a senior striker, MacDonald’s departure allows him space for new arrivals.

But Rodgers will not be able to call upon the services of wideman Butler during that period, the Irishman set for surgery on a thigh muscle problem that could keep him sidelined past Christmas.

Butler, who has not yet appeared under Rodgers after the injury curtailed his pre-season, joins striker Craig Beattie on the sidelines after the Scot damaged a calf muscle during the club’s pre-season tour of Holland.

Midfielder Ferrie Bodde is Rodgers’ other injury absentee, the one-time transfer target of Bolton and Wigan not expected back to match fitness until at least January as he recovers from a third major knee operation.

Bodde is currently still in his native Netherlands as he undergoes rehabilitation, but has been told by Rodgers he still sees him part of his plans with negotiations over a new deal believed to have begin.

Fellow former Dutch youth international Agustien is expected to agree a Liberty stay this week.

Burnley travel to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow to play Swansea City and it is a game where both managers are warning of a difficult game ahead for their respective teams.

Brendan Rodgers is the new man in charge at Swansea, having been appointed to replace Paulo Sousa who moved to Leicester, and he reckons Burnley are going to be one of the top teams this season in the Championship.

"We know it's going to be difficult but we want to win every game at home," Rodgers said as he looked forward to his second home league game in charge. "For teams coming to the Liberty we want to make it as difficult as possible, that proved to be the case in the first game [against Preston] and we want to continue to do that.

"There's no doubt that we're going to be playing against one of the teams right up there over the course of the season, but it will be about us to make it as difficult as we possibly can.

"I have great confidence that we can do that, and if we win on Saturday it will be a terrific start, four wins from six, which will give us confidence going into our next games."

Brian Laws knows that a good result at Swansea, added to the results so far, means a good start to the season and he said: "Any team that wants to be successful has to have a good start. The last thing you want is to go into the season chasing.

"Because we got relegated and because I was new into the club, it was important to start well this season and get a feel good factor going. We have done that, but we haven't achieved anything yet though, other than a solid start."

Laws continued: "Looking at the first block of games, people were saying it was as tough a start as we could have asked for, so it's a good measure of the players' attitude that we have started well and it would be nice to finish off for the international break with another good result behind us.

"It's positive and you can work on the strategy for the next month when we have seven games in 21 days that will test our squad to the maximum."

On Swansea he admitted: "I would say this is going to be our toughest game. As each game goes by, we all say the same things, but Swansea were always going to be a tough side to crack.

"Looking at last season, their home form was fantastic, very rarely do they concede lots of goals and the only achilles heel I could see was the fact they didn't score enough goals.

"This year, I don't think there will be any change in the way they play. The new manager has gone in and they have shown they will be tough.

"It will be a good game of football and we have to measure ourselves against another good side."

Yeovil Town Football Club are pleased to announce that Swansea midfielder Shaun MacDonald has returned to the club on a loan deal until January 3rd 2011.

Shaun, 21, has returned for a third spell with the Glovers after two previous loan spells. In January 2009, he scored twice in four games while last season he stayed for most of the season playing 31 times and scoring three.

The Welsh under-21 record breaking star has found it difficult to break into the Swansea side despite signing a new two year deal with the Swans in the summer. A change of manager from Paulo Sousa to Brendan Rodgers hasn't aided his elevation into Championship football either.

His international career has continued to blossom though and only last week, Shaun received another call-up into the Welsh under-21 squad for the UEFA Championship qualifiers against Hungary and Italy in early September.

Always a popular figure for his whole-hearted attitude, Shaun will be welcomed back and everyone at Huish Park wishes him well for this latest spell.

SWANSEA City fans should be in upbeat mood at the moment because there's nothing but positivity coming from the manager.

Don't get me wrong, last weekend's defeat at Norwich was a huge disappointment.

Swansea never deserved to lose, and the performance and tactical approach were very encouraging.

Brendan Rodgers is clearly not afraid to be adventurous, even away from home, and that's a philosophy I agree with.

Again he selected an attack-minded side at Carrow Road and Swansea deserved to win the match.

The game hinged on a late penalty, which Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy saved, but the fact Swansea were in a position to win the spot-kick proves they were threatening and looking to take all three points right to the death.

That would not have been the case last season.

It was a good save by Ruddy, but there are huge question marks over whether the former Everton man should have been on the field. I don't like seeing people sent off, but according to the letter of the law he should have walked.

You can disregard the second goal because had Swansea not been pushing so far forward, it would never have been scored.

The circumstances of the defeat were disappointing — the result was hard to take because Swansea were the better team.

But at this stage of the season, performance counts for a lot. And Swansea are playing well.

If they continue to produce similar displays, they will win far more than they'll lose this season.

Rodgers is definitely on the right road to success, but it's important to remember that he is still very new to the job.

He has only been in place four weeks and will still be getting to know the players, their strengths and weaknesses and what they can offer him.

By now he should be developing a clearer idea of which players can take the club forward and which can't.

And with the transfer window shutting on Tuesday, decisions over which players he might like to move on and those he'd like to bring in need to be made.

There has been talk of a striker arriving, and with both Gorka Pintado and Craig Beattie injured that is clearly an area that needs reinforcing.

Henri Lansbury has also been linked with a move to the Liberty and he's a player I'd love to see arrive.

Like Scott Sinclair, Lansbury is young and hugely talented having been schooled at another top Premier League club in Arsenal.

However, I don't see central midfield as an area that urgently requires new personnel.

Darren Pratley, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi can all do a job in there, while Mark Gower has been a revelation so far this season.

I have always rated Gower — he is a good footballer with good feet, and if you can perform on the flank there's no reason why you can't do the same in the middle, as he is proving.

Of course, if people are to come in, others must be moved on.

With that in mind I was surprised Brendan opted to make so many changes for the League Cup wins against Barnet and Tranmere.

Those players will now be cup-tied, potentially making them less attractive to other clubs.

Several players in the squad would definitely benefit from a loan move and I hope they get that opportunity before the window closes.

Reserve football is all well and good, but it doesn't have the intensity of first-team action, which helps young players in particular develop.

DAVID Cotterill has refused to watch last weekend's penalty heartbreaker at Norwich — but won't shy away from spot-kick duty against Burnley tomorrow.

The Wales winger saw his 84th-minute penalty kept out by John Ruddy as Swansea City went down 2-0 at Carrow Road.

It proved a crucial moment in the match, with the game goalless when Ruddy tipped Cotterill's effort on to the post.

Norwich added to Cotterill's misery with two late goals, which sent Swansea on the long trip home wondering how they did not have so much as a point to show for their efforts.

But Cotterill is adamant he won't be handing over the responsibility if the chance arises to shoot from 12 yards when Burnley visit the Liberty.

"I was very disappointed because the time it came at meant we probably would have won if I'd scored," said Cotterill.

"I was going to go the other side but I changed my mind at the last moment, which you should never do. The keeper made a fine save and then they go and score two at our end.

"I've not seen the replay because I don't want to see it.

"It plays on your mind a lot, but you have to be strong and focused on making it right in the next game.

"Top players miss them but they respond in the right way. That's what I'll be looking to do when we get our next penalty.

"I was the penalty-taker at Sheffield United and I missed one in about 15 penalties, so my record is not bad.

"I won't be shying away from taking one tomorrow if we get a penalty — I'll be stepping forward to take it."

That setback aside, Cotterill has enjoyed a relatively successful start to the campaign.

His switch from the wing to a central role under Brendan Rodgers has already offered much promise, while he opened his club account for the season with a goal from the penalty spot in the win over Preston.

On the international stage, Cotterill notched up his first goal for Wales this month in the 5-1 hammering of Luxembourg in Llanelli.

And with wife Sasha recently giving birth to a son, Sydney, Cotterill is in high spirits.

He reckons Swansea have a lot of positives to take from their opening few games — despite losing two of their three Championship fixtures.

"Things have gone pretty well so far in my view," he said.

"My wife give birth to our second child just before the season kicked off, while we've played well despite not picking up results at Hull and Norwich.

"We've only got three out of nine points, but I don't think the results reflect the way we've played.

"We are not low on confidence but we know we have to start hitting the net now and taking our chances.

"I've taken on a different role in the team and I'm really enjoying it.

"A lot of players will tell you that when you're out wide it can get frustrating. But down the centre of the park you are more involved and I hope to get the wingers involved quicker too because we have pace to burn."

He added: "I'm very happy to be playing here, though, because we play great football and the lads are excellent as a group.

"The new manager has come in and given us fresh ideas and everyone is happy now.

"We are all really focused on tomorrow's game, and we are looking forward to testing ourselves against another ex-Premier League club.

"Hopefully the result will match our performance."

BRENDAN Rodgers has paid tribute to his "unique" Swansea City team ahead of tomorrow's Championship clash with promotion contenders Burnley.

And the Swansea manager has singled out his captain, Garry Monk, for special praise in the wake of the comeback win at Tranmere Rovers in midweek.

Rodgers believes his players began proving they can be a force this season by overhauling a 1-0 deficit to triumph 3-1 at Prenton Park.

And he insists the "personality" displayed on Tuesday will be key throughout the campaign.

"There was one moment at Tranmere that typified what this group is about," Rodgers said.

"It was the skipper, Garry Monk, who the club are very, very fortunate to have as captain because he is so honest.

"He came in at half-time on Tuesday and apologised for his mistake for the Tranmere goal, and in the modern game you don't get that.

"Players are not as honest as they were 15 or 20 years ago.

"It used to be the norm for players to come in and hold their hands up, but now you don't usually see that.

"But this group, for me, are unique.

"We have a bunch of really honest players, and none more so than the captain, who is a wonderful leader for this club.

"He could easily have tried to blame the grass or his studs, but he held his hands up straightaway and then responded brilliantly in the second half. It takes a man to do that."

Before Tranmere, Swansea had not won a game after going behind since February 2009.

But Rodgers reckons the win on the Wirral says much about their ability to chalk up more turnaround successes in the future.

"We saw the resilience of the group on Tuesday and that is very important," he added.

"It's not just Swansea. If you look at the statistics all across the leagues last season, more than 50 per cent of teams failed to win after going behind.

"But then you look at the successful clubs and see that they managed it.

"That shows that it is going to be crucial for us to keep on doing that. The players have shown they can do it, and repeating it will be key to our development and growth."

Rodgers believes the personality of players — both individually and collectively — comes out during "each 90 minutes" they play.

The Northern Irishman is still getting to know his squad having arrived in Wales only last month, but already he has seen enough to feel excited.

"In football, as in your social life, you need perseverance and determination if you are going to succeed," he continued.

"If we have those characteristics, which we have, and we also have honesty, we will grow over the next two or three season.

"There are no superstars at this club.

"Some of them could walk about like that because they are really good players, but what I have learned in my time as a coach and manager is that the best people usually make the best coaches and the best players."

Determination and perseverance may be required to get past a Burnley side who have begun the season in some style following a year-long stay in the Premier League.

Swansea could give a first league start to summer signing Neil Taylor at left-back, but further recruits look unlikely before the weekend despite Rodgers's best efforts.

The former Reading boss is still hoping to conclude deals for Henri Lansbury, Kemy Agustien and Frank Nouble, while Ipswich striker Tamas Priskin remains on his radar ahead of next week's transfer deadline.

"Burnley have kept a lot of their players from last season and added one or two good ones as well, so this will be a really good test of where we are," Rodgers said.

gareth.vincent@swwmedia.co.uk

ALAN Tate faces Burnley tomorrow admitting matchday provides a welcome release from the personal problems which have made this the toughest period in his life.

Tate's father Bill, who is perhaps the biggest of his many supporters, has not seen Swansea City in action this season because he is battling bowel cancer.

And the 27-year-old's grandmother, Nancy, was told last week that there is nothing more doctors can do to help her fight against stomach and lung cancer.

There was great happiness in the Tate clan over the summer when Alan's first child, Brodie, came into the world.

But for Tate, the joy of becoming a dad has now given way to worry and concern for the family back home in the North East.

"It's definitely been the hardest month of my life," the fans' favourite says.

"I'm sure there are people out there who are worse off than me, and you just have to get on with things and try to do your best when you are playing.

"But off the field, when I am away from football, it has been difficult.

"I found out last week that my nana has incurable lung and stomach cancer. I can't remember exactly when I heard because the last few days have all been a bit of a blur.

"At the beginning of the month my dad had his second operation on his bowel cancer, and my other grandmother is having problems with old age as well.

"What's going on is in my head all the time."

Just like Tate, the family enjoy spending time in South West Wales.

And over the last few years, they have regularly been spotted on away ends up and down the land following Swansea's progress.

"My dad travels all over the place, but he has not been to a game this season because of how he is feeling," Tate adds.

"He has just had another operation and it is his mum who is having to live day by day, so he is a bit up in the air.

"One of the things that makes me happy is that my nana has been down to Swansea to see me play.

"Hopefully she will get the chance to come again but, if not, at least she has seen me at the place where I'm probably the happiest I've ever been."

With the international break to come after Burnley, Tate is planning an imminent trip to County Durham.

He was last back on home turf after Swansea lost at Hull City on the opening day of the new season.

"My dad had the operation just before that and I went up to see him after the game," Tate explains.

"On the Sunday before I came back to Swansea, I took my nana to the hospital for some tests and didn't think anything of it.

"But they took her and my mam and dad into a room last week and told them the news.

"I'm going to try to get home as quickly as possible to see her.

"We are only a small family and I am close to her.

"My mam's only got one brother and my dad hasn't got any, so there are not that many of us."

Tate says he has tried not to burden Brendan Rodgers with his problems, informing him only about his father so he could head home after Hull.

"He was good as gold about that, but he has got enough things to worry about without me telling him everything else," Swansea's vice-captain adds.

"I am old enough and hopefully strong enough to look after myself."

Even so, Tate is happy to be around his team-mates and friends right now.

"It's good to have people with you because it's when you're left on your own that you start to get down," he goes on.

"Being with the baby as much as possible is good."

Tate has made a steady if unspectacular start to the season, beginning the campaign on the left of Rodgers's defence and then switching to the right halfway through last weekend's defeat at Norwich.

He may be right-back once again against the Clarets — and insists what is going on off the field will not affect him on it.

"When you are on the pitch you don't really think about anything else," Tate stresses.

"Maybe subconsciously there is something, but I am just getting on with things as best as I can.

"I am fairly happy with the way I have started the season, apart from the first half at Norwich.

"Like I said, everyone has their own problems and, while they all seem to have come at once for me, I just have to get on with it."

And for all football's irrelevance given what else is going on in Tate's life, a few good results will be most welcome.

"You always want to win games anyway, but the chance to send some good news back home is another reason to do well," Tate says.

No-one outside Burnley would begrudge him the key goal this weekend.

gareth.vincent@swwmedia.co.uk

Brendan Rodgers believes his Swansea City side are starting to show their true colours after finally beating their comeback curse.

And by doing so he claims his players are revealing a personality that will mean real progression for the club.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Championship promotion contenders Burnley, Rodgers suggested his side go into the clash having made a significant step in midweek.

Before Tuesday night’s Carling Cup victory at Tranmere, Swansea had not won a game after going behind in more than 18 months.

And, while Rodgers will refuse to read too much in what was an expected result against League One opposition, he did not downplay the importance of breaking such a sequence.

“I always think that 90 minutes of football reveals your personality as a player and as a team,” said Rodgers, who saw goals from Cedric van der Gun, Scott Sinclair and Shefki Kuqi turn around things at Prenton Park, having gone behind to Enoch Showumni’s first-half opener. “Hopefully now we are starting to see this team’s true personality coming out.

“We want to be winners and we want to achieve, but sometimes it is going to get uncomfortable. It was that on Tuesday, but we got over the hill and got the result.

“And we’re going to need that during the season so it was great to have that feeling back of having hope of getting back into a game. It bodes well for the future.”

Swansea’s lack of scoring prowess under Paulo Sousa, underlined by a lack of confidence in their final-third play, ensured Swansea did not come from behind at all last term.

And you have to go back to February 2009 – a 3-1 win against Doncaster – for the last time Swansea fought back to win from a losing score.

It was something brought up by Rodgers at half-time in midweek, challenging his players to show the statistic would not be a hindrance to this season’s aims.

“In fairness, it wasn’t just Swansea,” said Rodgers of the lack of resolve offered in the previous campaign. “When you look at the stats across the divisions, more than 50% if teams failed to win games after going behind. That’s a high percentage of teams – but they are not the successful teams.

“And changing that is crucial if we want to get anywhere, it is critical to development.

“Sometimes there is no greater feeling to have won a game from being behind, the satisfaction you gain having been up against it – and now we have that back.”

The challenge is on for Swansea to show that in the league now, against teams of the same standard rather than strugglers from the division below.

But Rodgers is pleased by the challenge met by his players as he looks to take things forward at the Liberty, adding: “I already know this group has talent – and I will continue to try and add to that – but there are two things you need in football as much as anything if you are to succeed and that is perseverance and determination.

“The players are beginning to understand the challenges I’m putting in front of them, they are accepting them and we are seeing the personality of the group as a result.

“Things like their resilience are important if we are to become successful.”

Rodgers is also pleased by another of the squad’s personality traits. He cited the “refreshing honesty” of Garry Monk in accepting responsibility for Tranmere’s first on Tuesday as an example, calling his captain “a wonderful leader” and claiming it is that openness that is allowing him to implement his ideas.

But, honesty or not, Rodgers knows there will be little room for error come tomorrow’s clash with the Clarets, a side whose unbeaten start to the campaign has given some early justification to their pre-season favourites’ tag.

“It is going to be a tough game,” conceded the Ulsterman. “They maintained a lot of the squad from last year and added one or two so it really is a challenge we can look forward to. It is a tough test, but it can be a good gauge for us as a side.

“We perhaps should have had more points as a side, but I would be more worried if the performance has not been there.

“We want to make the Liberty a fortress and we were fantastic against Preston where we set a standard.

“We know it won’t be like that every week, but it is a standard we want to try and maintain.

“And these players are so committed and honest they will push themselves to do so in every game which gives me great confidence.”

BRENDAN Rodgers remains confident that Henri Lansbury will soon be a Swansea City player despite a hold-up in the deal to sign him on loan from Arsenal.

Lansbury's proposed switch to the Liberty has been delayed because of injuries to Arsenal midfield pair Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong.

Lansbury also picked up a minor groin strain in training this week, meaning he would not be fit to face Burnley this Saturday even if the move was completed in time.

But Rodgers is optimistic that the Gunners starlet will eventually arrive in Wales, either before the summer transfer window closes next Tuesday or a week later when the emergency loan window opens.

"Henri has a slight injury and Arsenal have other problems in midfield so we are having to wait and see what happens," said the Swansea boss. "But I am hoping he will be back up and running soon and that he will then join us."

Lansbury is due to meet up with the England Under-21 squad next week, though his involvement is now in doubt because of the injury.

Ideally Swansea will sign him over the weekend or early next week, but it is understood a move for Dundee United striker Francisco Sandaza is highly unlikely. Reports in Scotland yesterday claimed the Dundee United striker was set to sign for Swansea. United boss Peter Houston even suggested Swansea had agreed a deal with Sandaza, but that is incorrect.

Sandaza, 25, spent two days training with Swansea last week and has spoken to Rodgers about a possible loan switch, but the transfer is not now expected to happen.

Swansea remain hopeful of landing West Ham's Frank Nouble on loan as well as a more experienced centre-forward before next week's deadline.

And Swansea are also expecting Kemy Agustien, the trialist who impressed during pre-season, to arrive at some stage.

Meanwhile, Rodgers hopes his players have turned a corner after Swansea came back from behind to win for the first time in 18 months.

Rodgers was thrilled with the powers of recovery his team showed at Tranmere on Tuesday night.

Trailing to Enoch Showunmi's goal with 17 minutes to go, Swansea looked to be heading for a Carling Cup exit. But quickfire strikes from Cedric van der Gun, Scott Sinclair and Shefki Kuqi mean Rodgers's men can look ahead to Saturday's third-round draw — when the Premier League's top sides are in the hat — with some anticipation.

Before Tranmere, Swansea had not overturned a deficit to win a game since Doncaster were beaten 3-1 at the Liberty back in February 2009.

"I've had a look at the statistics and whenever we went behind last season, we did not come back to win a game," Rodgers said. "I talked about that with the players at half-time on Tuesday. I said we had a chance to show a reaction, and the response I got was magnificent.

"It shows the spirit within the group and it was pleasing because Tranmere made life difficult for us.

"We went there with the aims of getting into the next round and showing that we are capable of winning away from home, which we hadn't managed previously.

"It was good for our mentality that we were able to do those things."

THE Carling Cup might have meant a rare chance for Scott Sinclair to feature had he prolonged his stay at Stamford Bridge.

Now the winger calls Swansea City home, he is one of the big stars who some might expect to be left out on League Cup nights.

A talented fringe player who struggled for first-team opportunities at Chelsea, Sinclair is a central figure at his new club.

His early performances in Swansea colours have offered a glimpse of his undoubted talent, the 21-year-old showing already why Brendan Rodgers was so keen to do a deal which could eventually be worth more than £1 million.

Things are going well for Sinclair as he attempts to put down some roots in South West Wales.

And as for being rested as Rodgers's men went to the Wirral in midweek, the idea never entered Sinclair's head.

"You would have to ask the gaffer if he was thinking about leaving me out," he says.

"But I wanted to be involved at Tranmere. I want to play every game I possibly I can, whether it's starting or coming off the bench.

"I want to get as many minutes as I can and I'm raring to go. I just want to get on the ball."

Rodgers is well aware of the new man's hunger to make an impression.

While a clutch of first-team heavyweights including Darren Pratley, Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill were left in Swansea on Tuesday night, the club's potential jewel in the crown went north.

Sinclair began the night on the substitutes' bench, and it is a decent bet that he might have remained there throughout had Swansea's starting line-up brushed Tranmere aside.

As it was, Rovers made life uncomfortable for their Championship opponents, snuffing Swansea out and then threatening occasionally through Enoch Showunmi.

When the 6ft 5in frontman put Tranmere ahead, Swansea spent a worrying period staring at a third away defeat of the season.

But Rodgers's team woke up after the interval at Prenton Park, and the introduction of Sinclair and Stephen Dobbie helped bring the cutting edge they had earlier been lacking.

After a freak goal from Cedric van der Gun brought Swansea level — and before Shefki Kuqi's late drive wrapped up the win — Sinclair's sizzling pace took him clear and a neat left-foot finish saw him register a first goal for his new side. "It was a great feeling to get on the scoresheet," Sinclair admits.

"The main priority was for the team to win the game, but I'm happy to get the first goal out of the way and hopefully I can now start building on that."

In his 91st senior appearance — 47 of which have been starts — this was Sinclair's 11th goal.

That record suggests that expecting him to score a hatful this season would be ill-advised, but the threat he has carried in his three Swansea appearances to date indicates that he can be a real danger. "I haven't really set myself a target. I will just try to score as many goals as I can," he continues.

"It's good to have the first one under my belt — it's been a little frustrating not to have got one already. But sometimes you don't put chances away and it's still early in the season.

"Hopefully the goals will keep coming as the season goes on."

Starting, perhaps, against Burnley this weekend.

There will be no question marks over Sinclair's involvement this Saturday, when Rodgers's men aim to sign off before the international break with victory over one of the Championship's more fancied sides.

"The gaffer talked to us about getting two wins this week before the Tranmere game, and that is still the target," Sinclair adds.

"If we play like we did in the second half on Tuesday, I'm sure we'll do well."

And so the cup moves on to the backburner, at least until the draw is made for round three on Saturday afternoon.

"If we get Chelsea it would be nice," Sinclair says through a smile, "but for now I'm just thinking about Burnley."

SWANSEA CITY’S move for England Under-21 starlet Henri Lansbury has been put on hold by Arsenal’s injury woes.

Boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add loan signing Lansbury with the young midfielder impressing during a similar spell at Watford last season.

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger – who must name a 25-man Premier League squad next week – is understood to be considering his options after Emmanuel Frimpong was ruled out for six to nine months after damaging cruciate knee ligaments in training.

“It’s still pending. Arsenal have had injuries and had to take a step back,” said Rodgers on the day Lansbury was named in the England Under-21 squad to face Portugal and Lithuania in the European Under-21 Championship.

“Frimpong got injured and Henri plays in that position.

“So we must await and see what Arsenal are saying. The important thing is that I’m looking to build a strong squad here, not just 11 players.

“I want to build a group and a squad and that’s why some guys on the fringe had an opportunity to play at Tranmere.”

Rodgers was delighted after Swansea booked their place in the third round of the Carling Cup with a 3-1 comeback win at Prenton Park.

“The reaction of the players was fantastic,” he said. “Looking at the statistics last year when they went behind, they haven’t come back and won.

“So that reaction in the second half was outstanding – we coupled a bit of aggression with our possession and we created chances.

“I felt it was important for our mentality to come away from home and win.

“I got a big reaction – I picked that out before the game and at half-time – and it shows the spirit in the group.

“That was the first thing I wanted. The other was to be in the next round and demonstrate our qualities against a big club or the possibility of going further into the fourth round.”

SCOTT SINCLAIR admitted taking a Carling Cup breather was the last thing on his mind after he kept Swansea City’s interest in the competition alive.

It’s not uncommon for key players to be left at home in the early rounds of the Carling Cup – note the absence of Craig Bellamy in Cardiff City’s 2-1 defeat at Peterborough – with vital league games looming just a few days later.

But Sinclair – who has already underlined his value to the Swansea cause since his record move from Chelsea earlier this month – was determined not be kicking his heels in South Wales when Brendan Rodgers’ side travelled to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday.

And Rodgers felt the benefits as Sinclair’s first Swansea goal helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 victory at Prenton Park.

“I’m looking to play every game – whether I start or if I come on, I’m raring to go,” said Sinclair, enjoying a new lease of life at Swansea after finally putting down some roots on the back of several loan spells around the country.

“I want to play as many minutes as I can. I suppose you saw that when I came on, I couldn’t wait to get the ball and play.”

The deal to bring the talented Sinclair to the Liberty Stadium could eventually exceed £1m – a new Swansea record.

But it already appears money well spent as the 21-year-old winger has hit the ground running in South Wales.

Sinclair shone in league games against Preston and Norwich – winning an unconverted penalty at Carrow Road – and his pace and movement has caused no end of problems for every opponent so far.

Swans boss Rodgers said: “I would think Scott is going to be very popular with the fans and that’s why I brought him here.

“He’s a boy I know well, you can just see the penetration he gives us and is so important for us.

“We’ve been wonderful with the ball, so we’ve just got to make sure we get penetration and get behind teams as well as play in front of them.

“Scotty gives us that. He scored one at Tranmere, he maybe could have had a couple more and his movement was fantastic.

“I always had it in my mind, and on my notes, that between 65 and 75 minutes I wanted that injection of pace into the game to get the intensity up, no matter how the game was going.”

Sinclair certainly provided that as his introduction alongside Stephen Dobbie quickly changed the course of events on Merseyside.

And the way he put Swansea 2-1 ahead, arrowing a shot across goalkeeper Joe Collister into the bottom corner of the net with his weaker left foot, suggested that Sinclair’s strike will be the first of many in a Swans shirt.

“It was a great feeling getting the goal,” said the Bath-born player.

“The main priority was to get the win, but I was delighted to get the goal and start building on that.

“It’s been frustrating because I’ve had a couple of chances to score in other games and I haven’t put them away.

“But it’s early season and if I keep progressing and working hard then I’ll be looking to score goals.

“I haven’t really set a target – I just want to score as many as I can and bring goals to the team – but, as I’ve said, the main priority is winning games.”

Sinclair’s impact at Tranmere put Swansea in the Carling Cup third round hat, the draw for which will be made on Saturday lunchtime.

And that could even see him reunited with former club Chelsea as the big boys prepare to enter the competition.

“It would be nice to get Chelsea and I’ll have a little eye on who we get,” said Sinclair, who made only 14 appearances for the Premier League champions.

“If we get Chelsea, we get Chelsea – but I haven’t thought about it too much.

“I’m just looking forward to the league games and playing every game I can.

“Every game is a tough game and Burnley on Saturday will be no different.

“The gaffer told us that it would be great to win these two games before the international break and we’ve won the first one.

“Now we’ll look to the Burnley game and hopefully carry it on. I’m sure that if we start the way we played the second half at Tranmere then I’m sure we’ll do well. I’ve been out on loan to quite a few clubs, but Swansea’s one of the best passing teams I’ve played with, and I’m just happy to be playing with these boys.”

Swansea City frontman Stephen Dobbie has signed a new three-year contract with the club so ending Blackpool FC’s transfer hopes.

The 27-year-old Scottish frontman spent the final four months of last season on loan with the Seasiders helping them claim promotion to the Premier League.

Dobbie said: "I know there have been a few enquiries from Blackpool along the way, but I'm just glad I've put pen to paper and can concentrate on my football with Swansea City.

"I didn't find the interest from Blackpool too unsettling because it means you must be doing something right when other teams want to buy you. I went there, did well and have fond memories of the place.

"But it's all about Swansea for me, especially with the new gaffer (Brendan Rogers) in charge. He's been fantastic with me and I want to repay him with a few goals."

The deal now also appears to cast doubt on boss Ian Holloway’s attempts to lure striker Angel Rangel to Bloomfield Road as he also wanted Dobbie included in any deal with the Swans.

SWANSEA CITY have seen off Blackpool’s hopes of luring striker Stephen Dobbie to the Premier League after agreeing a new Liberty Stadium deal with the striker.

Tangerines boss Ian Holloway made two separate bids for his former loan star, with reports suggesting he was going to make a third this week.

But Dobbie, who had a year left to run on his current deal, has agreed to extend his stay with the Swans until 2013 after the moves were blocked.

The Scot had been frozen out under Paulo Sousa and was farmed out to Bloomfield Road where he played a significant role in Blackpool’s play-off success.

But, having been given a new lease of life under boss Brendan Rodgers, Dobbie insists he is delighted to have committed to the club.

And, even with Rodgers going on record to say he is searching for new strikers before the transfer window closes this month, Dobbie says he’s happy to fight for his place knowing he will now be given a fair chance to prove himself.

Speaking of his new deal, Dobbie said: “It’s a bit of a turnaround from where I was a couple of months ago, but that’s down to the manager who was here and then the manager who’s come in.

“In the summer I certainly didn’t think I’d be signing a new contract, it was more of a case of coming back to maybe go away again because of the manager that was here.

“But things can change quickly in football and I’m happy of that. I wanted to get settled, especially having a young family, and it was a difficult time with the previous manager not fancying me and not knowing about my future.

“But the new manager coming in gave me a chance to work hard and impress which hopefully I’ve done. I’m playing, feeling good, scored my first and I want to carry on and get more.

“And, although there’s been talk of other strikers coming in, that’s fine and all you can ask for is a fair fight. That’s what I wanted when I came back from breaking my ribs last year, but I played one game and he didn’t see me again until January.

“The new manager is going to bring in new players, players of the quality of Scott Sinclair that can only improve the team, but everyone has a fair fight for their place and that’s important.”

Rodgers, poised for a move for West Ham youngster Frank Nouble as well as a more experienced frontman, has told the former Rangers and Hibs man he sees him as a key part of his plans at the Liberty, something Dobbie is delighted despite it ending the chance of a top-flight switch to Blackpool.

“The new manager having confidence in me has been massive,” added Dobbie

Dundee United striker Francisco Sandaza is on the brink of a move to Championship club Swansea.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, who was plagued by injuries last season, has been given the green light to leave Tannadice by manager Peter Houston.

Sandaza, who has made a total of 43 appearances for United, scoring 11 goals, impressed while on trial at the Liberty Stadium last week, and Swans boss Brendan Rodgersis set to offer him a permanent deal.

"Fran looks to be moving on and I believe Swansea have agreed a package with him," Houston said in the Daily Record.

"He is one of our top earners but because of his fitness problems we've not been able to get him on the pitch and Swansea are willing to take a chance on him."

Sandaza, who has a year remaining on his United contract, missed the first seven months of their last campaign with serious hernia problems and did not return to action until March this year.

Then, following just eight appearances, the forward tore a hamstring during a 2-0 defeat to Celtic at the end of April and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

STEPHEN Dobbie has admitted it is nice to feel wanted again after agreeing a new three-year Swansea City contract.

The striker has put pen to paper on a new agreement which will keep him at the Liberty until 2013 — just months after he seemed certain to depart.

Dobbie has revealed that there have been at least two bids from Blackpool for his services this summer.

But the 27-year-old Scot is unconcerned about missing out on the chance to play Premier League football because he is happy with life under Brendan Rodgers.

Dobbie was dispatched to Blackpool on loan last February after being frozen out of the first-team picture by then Swansea boss Paulo Sousa.

But the former Rangers youngster is now a central part of Rodgers's plans.

"Blackpool have made a couple of bids for me, but I'm delighted to have sorted out the new contract," Dobbie said.

"It's a bit of a turnaround when you look at how things were a few months ago, but that's down to the manager who was here and the manager we have now.

"In May I thought I was coming back just to go away again because of the manager at the time.

"There was a lot of uncertainty because he didn't fancy me, but the new gaffer has come in and I've worked hard to impress him.

"He has had a massive influence on me signing the new deal.

"It's always good when a manager likes you to start off with, and I just want to be part of things here."

Dobbie has started Swansea's three league games so far, opening his account for the season in the 4-0 thrashing of Preston last week.

Rodgers is keen to add at least one more centre-forward to his squad before the transfer window closes next week, but Dobbie insists he would welcome the arrival of a high quality forward.

"I have a lot of friends up in Blackpool and I have a lot of respect for the gaffer up there," he added.

"But it's more important to me that I'm playing every week and the team are on the front foot, rather than maybe defending for most of every game.

"I enjoy the way we play at Swansea, and it's nice to have a manager who has some confidence in me again.

"Playing up front with players like Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair, David Cotterill and Darren Pratley, I think you can only score goals."

Dobbie found the back of the net three times in his early days as a Swan after Roberto Martinez brought him to Wales.

But after picking up a rib injury last August, Dobbie barely got another chance to impress under Sousa.

He played a significant part in Blackpool's promotion to the top flight and now aims to repeat the feat with Swansea.

SCOTT Sinclair fired his first goal for Swansea City as Brendan Rodgers's men climbed off the canvas to knock Tranmere Rovers out of the Carling Cup last night.

Sloppy Swansea looked to be heading for a humbling defeat after a miserable first-half performance on the Wirral.

But a freak goal from Cedric van der Gun and a touch of class from Sinclair inside 60 seconds — and a late third from Shefki Kuqi — saw Rodgers chalk up his first away win as Swansea boss.

Six and a half years ago Brian Flynn's Swansea lost here to end the Lee Trundle-inspired run to the FA Cup fifth round.

Back then Swansea were the underdogs, but they began as favourites this time around despite Brendan Rodgers making seven changes to the side which started at Norwich last weekend.

Out went Alan Tate, Darren Pratley, Mark Gower, David Cotterill, Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Stephen Dobbie as Rodgers gave some of his fringe men a chance.

Among them was Casey Thomas, the 18-year-old making his first Swansea start on the right flank.

There was another full debut at left-back for Neil Taylor, while Joe Allen continued his rehabilitation after shoulder surgery in the centre of midfield.

Tranmere boss Les Parry picked his strongest possible side as the hosts went in search of a first victory on their own patch this season.

And it was the League One side who enjoyed the better of what was a largely uninspiring first half. Rodgers's men were trying to get their passing game going, and in spells they kept the ball fairly well.

But there was almost no sign of a Swansea breakthrough as their rejigged forward line gave the home rearguard little to think about.

Tranmere's 18-year-old goalkeeper, Joe Collister, would have been delighted with his lack of work as the men in front of him kept Swansea at arm's length without too much trouble.

In fairness, there was not a lot for Dorus de Vries to do either in what was a scrappy contest.

But it was Tranmere, spearheaded by powerhouse frontman Enoch Showunmi, who carried what menace there was in the first 45.

Showunmi's flick teed up Tranmere's first effort of the night, Joss Labadie galloping on from midfield but skewing his shot towards the corner flag.

Cue groans on three sides of Prenton Park — but they were not to last.

Just four minutes later, a long clearance from Collister was misjudged by Garry Monk and Showunmi made Swansea pay.

The former Bristol City striker is built like a boxer, but he showed some finesse to nod the ball beyond the advancing de Vries before steering a half-volley into the net.

Swansea might have struck back instantly had Allen's drive flown the right side of the post, but that was a rare bright moment for the men in black.

At the other end Aaron Cresswell's cross just eluded a stretching Showunmi, then Taylor's low centre was hacked clear by Ian Goodison as Shefki Kuqi closed in.

This was a Swansea side packed with players needing to stake a claim for a chance in the Championship, but few were doing themselves much good.

That almost changed within two minutes of the restart, Andrea Orlandi playing a sweet through ball for Allen just inside the box.

The Wales man had only Collister to beat, but the rookie goalkeeper saved superbly to keep Tranmere in front.

Seven minutes later Kuqi's header drifted just wide, then Allen's 20-yarder was smothered by Collister.

Swansea had arrived in the game at last, and Rodgers looked to increase their threat by summoning Dobbie and Sinclair from the bench.

The former Chelsea winger was quickly involved, but his driven free-kick flew comfortably over the top. No matter — Swansea would come again. Kuqi had been quiet, but it was the big man's hold-up play which triggered Swansea's curious equaliser.

Fed by his striker, Orlandi smashed goalwards from 20 yards and saw his effort crash back off the crossbar.

The rebound fell to van der Gun who, under pressure from a defender, stumbled and yet somehow bundled the ball over the line.

And within a minute the revival was complete – thanks to more good work from Kuqi.

This time the targetman laid off to Sinclair, who raced between two defenders before drilling a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net.

Swansea await Saturday's draw with interest.

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted with the 3-1 victory at Tranmere which saw his side progress in the Carling Cup.

Two second-half goals in 60 seconds saw the Swans come from behind to make it into the third round.

Dogged Rovers took the lead in the 22nd minute through Enoch Showunmi and looked like creating a surprise.

Cedric van der Gun and Scott Sinclair scored within a minute of each other and Shefki Kuqi netted a third in stoppage time.

Rodgers said: "We had plenty of possession, but no penetration in the first half. We made a mistake and went a goal behind.

"The reaction of the players was fantastic in the second half. We were a bit more aggressive, and it paid off. Obviously, I am very pleased with the outcome. All round, the team was very good, and Sinclair made an impact when he came on.

"It was important to get into the next round with a chance to demonstrate our ability against a big club.

"We also wanted to show we can win away from home, and that's what we did very well.

"I made changes because I felt I could pick a team to win a game. The players on the fringes had a chance to prove something, and did so. Now let's hope for a good draw in the next stage."

Tranmere manager Les Parry felt his side were unlucky not to progress to the third round of the competition.

He said: "The score does not reflect the game. We played really well in the first half and created some good chances. Our keeper made only one real save.

"We will play a lot worse than that and win. The result was gutting for the lads. But we can take a lot of pluses, although a third successive defeat at home is hard to take."

Parry explained why he named John Welsh the new skipper in place of Ian Thomas-Moore.

He said: "The situation with Thomas-Moore has dragged on since he made a transfer request.

"I thought that enough was enough and I had to do something, so I made a change in captaincy.

"John Welsh is one of the jokers in the pack, and is the ideal replacement."

Two second-half goals in 60 seconds saw Swansea come from behind to progress in the Carling Cup at the expense of Tranmere in a 3-1 win.
Dogged Rovers took the lead in the 22nd minute through Enoch Showunmi and looked like creating a surprise.

But Cedric van der Gun and Scott Sinclair scored within a minute of each other and Shefki Kuqi netted a third in stoppage time.

Showunmi fastened on to a long punt upfield and netted for the League One side with an excellent angled volley.

City, who started with only four from Saturday's Championship line-up, threatened just once in the first half, with Joe Collister hanging on well to a strike by Joe Allen.

Allen should have made it 1-1 two minutes after the break but his shot was turned over by Collister. Then Kuqi headed wide.

City enjoyed the lion's share of possession but failed to make full use of it until a telling 60 seconds after Stephen Dobie and Sinclair had joined the action.

Ian Goodison and Max Blanchard were excellent in a compact Tranmere rearguard which paid dearly in the end for a brief period of slackness.

Van der Gun scrambled the ball home in the 74th minute when an Andrea Orlandi strike rebounded from the bar.

Then almost straight from the re-start Sinclair rounded two defenders and beat Collister with a left foot hit from twelve yards.

A third Swansea goal in stoppage time from Kuqi made the scoreline tough on the Merseysiders.

Les Parry hopes the chance to take on Championship side Swansea City will be all the motivation his players need to bounce back from Saturday's defeat against Bournemouth.

Rovers take on the Swans in the Carling Cup second round at Prenton Park on Tuesday night, with the Manager telling Tranmere Player: "If the lads need picking up for the game tomorrow there is something wrong. We've had the report on Swansea and the Norwich manager said they're the best footballing side that he'd seen at Carrow Road. It took two late goals to beat them after Swansea missed a penalty. So it's a big task for us but it's certainly one the lads will look forward to.

"We did well in the cup against Wolves and against Norwich and Southampton at home last season, and part of that is down to the way we play. We're not gung ho at home which we were at home on Saturday and that's what happens when we are."

Meanwhile, the Manager has more injury concerns in defence with Ian Goodison picking up a knock against the Cherries.

Les continued: "Ian Goodison is struggling. He wanted to come off with a knock to his ankle. He had treatment yesterday and won't train today, so he's a major doubt.

"You can put up with three or four injuries are all strikers or centre halves that's when it bothers you. We've got Ash Taylor out, we've got Marlon out and now we've got Ian Goodison as well. So we're getting younger and younger at the back."

Boss Brendan Rodgers says Swansea City's Carling Cup second round trip to struggling League One side Tranmere Rovers should not be taken for granted.

Rovers are next to bottom with just one point from their opening three games.
"Even though it's been difficult for them... there's a big motivation from any team to beat an opponent from a higher league in the cup," he said.

Swansea have only won once in the league after suffering a second defeat of the season at Norwich on Saturday.

And while Rodgers knows league form is vital, he says he will be taking the Carling Cup seriously and can use it as a morale-booster following Saturday's late 2-0 loss at Carrow Road.

"Cup games are important and I like to do well in cup competitions but I also have to bear in mind that we have an important league game on Saturday," added Rodgers. "We'll have a strong side out.
"I think it's very important that you win your next game. How we lost on Saturday is disappointing, but it's gone. We move on and need to put that right on Tuesday night."

Swansea beat League Two side Barnet 3-0 in the last round and should they overcome Tranmere at Prenton Park, they could be drawn against one of the top Premier League sides who enter at the third round.
Tranmere were rewarded a match against the Swans after beating Walsall 1-0 away in the first round

BRENDAN Rodgers has dangled the carrot of a plum Carling Cup tie in front of his players ahead of tonight's tricky trip to Tranmere Rovers.

The Swansea City manager will ring the changes at Prenton Park with one eye on Saturday's Championship clash with Burnley.

But Rodgers insists he will pick a team good enough to follow up the comfortable first-round win over Barnet with victory over their League One hosts.

Tranmere have made a mixed start to the season, losing their two home games to date but winning their cup tie at Walsall and picking up an encouraging draw at Huddersfield.

And Rodgers warned: "They haven't had as good a start as they would have liked, but this will be a difficult game for us.

"We'll need to have the right focus and mentality to get through to the next round, which is our objective.

"For me the cup competitions are important. The priority is the league obviously, but we want to do well in the FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

"If you get through the early rounds of this competition, you can very quickly find yourself with a great draw and that's something we'd all like to happen."

A shortage of defensive options means Rodgers is likely to field a strong rearguard this evening, although Neil Taylor could make his first Swansea start at left-back ahead of Alan Tate.

Darren Pratley, Mark Gower and David Cotterill could all be rested along with the front three who started at Norwich last Saturday — Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Stephen Dobbie.

Shefki Kuqi, Cedric van der Gun, Andrea Orlandi, Jordi Lopez and Joe Allen are all on standby for starts along with youngster Casey Thomas.

"There will be some players who played at Norwich involved again and there will be others who have been on the fringe," Rodgers added.

"But we will be strong enough to go and get a result."

Tranmere have a doubt over influential central defender Ian Goodison, while 18-year-old Joe Collister looks set to start in goal.

LIKENED to Paul Gascoigne as a youngster, Mark Gower has been compared to another footballing superstar as he enjoys an Indian summer at Swansea City.

Claude Makelele is probably not the kind of player Gower ever expected to be mentioned alongside.

But Gower's new boss, Brendan Rodgers, reckons there are similarities between the two.

Gower, who will be 32 in October, conceded last season that he was "no spring chicken" any more.

Yet the former Southend winger has looked a man reborn since the change of manager at the Liberty.

Rodgers has switched Gower to a new holding role in central midfield, the kind Makelele filled so successfully for Chelsea and Real Madrid.

And the Northern Irishman believes Gower can draw inspiration from the example set by ex-France international Makelele.

"I said to Mark that getting to the age he is, he can play the Makelele role because he knows the game and he has a wonderful football brain," Rodgers says.

"Not many people realise it, but Makelele was a winger until he was about 26 years of age.

"Everyone thinks he played the position all his life, but he actually only moved there later in his career."

Signed as an attacking wideman in 2008, Gower has been a consistent performer for Swansea but has been frustrated by a lack of goals.

The failure to get on the scoresheet will not be an issue if he continues the sort of form he has shown in Swansea's fixtures against Preston and Norwich.

Gower has morphed into a ball-winning midfielder capable of distributing either long or short.

"In Mark, I see a guy who works hard every day with good intelligence," Rodgers adds.

"He is great in the group and I think in that position he can do very well.

"He has a good range of passing, his tenacity is very good and he understands the idea of what we're trying to do.

"The role he plays allows us to get our other players higher up the pitch.

"Our wide players can get higher up which means they can provide offensive threat and create things."

The imminent arrival of Henri Lansbury means increased competition in an area of the field where the contest for a start is already fierce.

The likes of Darren Pratley, Joe Allen, Andrea Orlandi and David Cotterill are all in contention, but Gower is more than holding his own right now.

Rodgers looks like taking the opportunity to rest the Londoner's limbs in tonight's Carling Cup tie at Tranmere.

But expect Gower to be back in the starting side when Championship points are up for grabs next weekend.

gareth.vincent@swwmedia.co.uk

BRENDAN Rodgers has hailed Henri Lansbury as "a terrific talent" as the Arsenal starlet closes on a move to Swansea City.

The Swansea manager reckons Lansbury has the quality to make a mark at the Emirates later in his career.

But Rodgers admits the 19-year-old's loan switch to the Liberty is a chance for Swansea to sell themselves in case he ends up leaving London on a full-time basis.

"Henri is a wonderful young player who did well in the Championship last season," he said. "To get a terrific talent like him into our group will be fantastic for us.

"He is very highly thought of at Arsenal and one thing you know with Arsene Wenger is that he will give young players an opportunity.

"If Arsenal feel he is one for the future, I'm sure he will be around at the club for a few years.

"The worst-case scenario is that there comes a point in a player's career where he has to look elsewhere.

"We have seen that with Scott Sinclair, and over the next couple of years Henri will have to see if he feels he is going to get a chance at Arsenal. If he does not, he may then have to find a home somewhere else."

Lansbury's base until at least January is Swansea, and Rodgers believes the Londoner will soon grow to like his new surroundings.

"These players coming on loan don't know what a beautiful area Swansea is," he added.

"I have got a very good sense of what the Welsh people are like over the last four or five weeks and I can see that it's a fantastic place to work and live.

"We want to be able to convince good players to come here and loan moves help us.

"Once players arrive, they see the beauty that's here, the support and the players we have, and I think the decision is made."

Lansbury could extend his spell with Swansea until the end of the season if things go well over the next five months.

The England Under-21 international, who has five Arsenal appearances to his name, has thrived in previous loan stints at Scunthorpe and Watford.

And Rodgers reckons Lansbury's attitude is the key to the success he has enjoyed.

"We want to bring in very good players, but we also want players with the right personality," he said.

"Even though he is coming in on loan, Henri is the type of boy who will adapt and throw himself into life at the club.

"Some players just see a loan somewhere as a loan and nothing more, but the boys who are educated at big clubs are very professional and know they are coming for a purpose."

Rodgers revealed that he is not keen on building a squad packed with borrowed players.

But with West Ham's Frank Nouble still a target, the former Reading boss concedes that a sprinkling of loan stars can have a positive impact.

"I don't want many because I want players who are signed up to this club," Rodgers added. "But if there's an opportunity to get one, two or a maximum three players on loan who can add something to the group, we will look at that."

Lansbury is not available for tonight's Carling Cup trip to Tranmere as the paperwork on his move was still to be completed last night.

But Swansea hope the deal will be tied up today, meaning he will be free to debut in Saturday's Championship clash with Brian Laws's Burnley.

BRENDAN RODGERS is hoping Mark Gower can draw inspiration from Claude Makelele after being handed the holding role at Swansea City.

A winger by trade, Gower has been told to fill the boots of Leon Britton and anchor the Swans midfield by boss Rodgers over the first few weeks of the season.

And the trick has worked, the former Tottenham trainee turning in a man-of-the-match performance at Norwich having already impressed in the previous week’s win over Preston.

Still, while Gower has occupied a central position before, it seems strange that such an attacking figure now has the responsibility of protecting the back four.

Yet Rodgers insists it is not that surprising a success story given the background of former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Makelele, a player so good in the role it became named after him.

“Not many people realise that Makelele was a winger until he was 26,” said Rodgers, who worked with the Champions League winner while coaching at Stamford Bridge.

“Everyone thinks he played that role in front of the back four all his life, but he only transferred there later in his career.

“And I told this to Mark because he has a wonderful football brain and knows the game.

“He’s someone who works hard every day but also someone with great intelligence about the game. He’s getting to an age where he can play that role because he understands what we’re trying to do.”

Gower did shift inside under previous boss Paulo Sousa, although that was higher up the field rather than at the base where he now finds himself.

And, at 31, the thought is that Gower has the experience and know-how to bring the balance Rodgers’ attack-orientated side needs.

But although the role is defensive in its positioning and with a duty to help break up attacks, Makelele was more than just a destroyer.

He was credited with making his teams tick by starting attacks from the back – something Rodgers is keen to see from his man.

“He’s got a great tenacity, which is important,” said Rodgers. “But it his range of passing that allows us to get other players, our wide players, higher up the pitch to give us that offensive threat and make sure we create things.”

Given Swansea’s need to create a lot more than they did last season, you can see why Rodgers is hoping lightening could strike twice when it comes to wingers entering the engine room.

And it certainly seemed as though the gamble was beginning to pay off at Carrow Road, Gower akin to a quarterback the way he switched play from his deep-laying role.

“It’s something I’m enjoying,” admitted Gower, a free signing from Southend two years ago.

“The manager asked me to play somewhere a bit different and told me about Makelele doing the same.

“I found that amazing because you would have thought he played that role all his life.

“You do have times when you instinctively want to go forward, but I have lads like Garry Monk and Ashley Williams who are good talkers.

“If they see me edging forwards they let me know about it. But I’m getting used to it, enjoying it, and in the last few games I feel as if I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. I’ve kept the ball for the team and occasionally hit the long pass and it is coming off well for me. Hopefully I can carry it on.”

It looks like he will get the chance, although Rodgers may be tempted to give Jordi Lopez a run-out in the role for tonight’s Carling Cup second-round tie at Tranmere.

There is the arrival of Dutchman Kemy Agustien to take into account, but right now Gower has the shirt and has every right to keep it.

And the player himself admits he will not take that lightly given the fact he feared for opportunities this season.

“In my head I was wondering if I was going to play because we have Nathan Dyer, David Cotterill, Cedric van der Gun and Tommy Butler all in there before Scott Sinclair signed later on,” the Londoner said.

“I’m getting on a bit so I was wondering how much game time I might get. But this opportunity has come along and I’ve tried to take it.”

And although no-one is expecting him to quite get to the standards of the masterful Makelele, Gower has certainly given his manager a new option in the role.

There could easily be an argument to play Joe Allen there, though he may be better suited to a out-and-out central role – a position he should fill at Prenton Park as he continues his comeback from summer shoulder surgery.

And Rodgers has pledged to give other fringe players a chance to impress in the cup clash, suggesting there could be an outing for the likes of Scott Donnelly in midfield, van der Gun out wide and Shefki Kuqi in attack.

Rodgers is unlikely to shift much at the back but Neil Taylor is in contention for a first start after impressing as a second-half substitute at Norwich.

The Wales Under-21 cap is expected to play at left-back, with Alan Tate covering for the injured Angel Rangel.

HENRI LANSBURY was last night close to agreeing a six-month loan switch from Arsenal to Swansea City, writes Chris Wathan.

And his arrival could yet open the door for the sale of Darren Pratley as Swans boss Brendan Rodgers looks to make a double striker swoop before the transfer window closes.

Lansbury, one of Arsene Wenger’s whizz-kids at the Emirates, seems all set for Swansea after talks between the two clubs, with Rodgers hopeful of beating off competition from Leeds, Leicester and Nottingham Forest to snare the England U-21 international.

Rodgers admitted it was a compliment that Wenger was willing to let one of his most highly-rated youngsters move to South Wales.

And – if he pulls off the deal – the former Chelsea youth chief revealed there is the possibility of keeping the midfielder at the Liberty beyond the new year.

“He’s a player we’ve been looking to get in, a wonderful young player who has done well in the Championship over the last few years,” said Rodgers on Lansbury who has impressed during temporary stints with Scunthorpe and Watford.

“It would be for six months, but after that we will look at it and see where we are. But the most important thing is getting through the door and it’s a compliment that Arsenal are willing to make it happen.”

The move will come after the capture of young Chelsea ace Scott Sinclair while Rodgers is also hoping to finalise a loan deal for West Ham England U-19 striker Frank Nouble.

Rodgers is also in the hunt for a more experienced frontman, but could be forced to stump up in order to do so.

With Lansbury due on board and Kemy Agustien also expected to sign to bolster midfield options, there would be the potential to sell Pratley to suitors Forest – but only if they returned with an improved offer.

Pratley is in his final year of his contract and has seen talks over a new deal break down.

Rodgers has stressed he wants to keep the energetic midfielder but could yet be tempted to cash in to fund a move for a new frontman.

There has not been further contact from Forest, although boss Billy Davies went public with an ultimatum to City Ground directors about needing to put-up or shut-up when it comes to their transfer targets.

One player not on his way to Swansea is former striker Jason Scotland who moved to Ipswich from Wigan in a £750,000 deal yesterday. Scotland claimed he turned down the chance of a return to the Liberty but while Rodgers was offered the chance to move for the Trinidadian, it is understood he opted against it.

According to reports Blackpool FC are targeting Swansea City duo Angel Rangel and Stephen Dobbie.

The Mirror claims Seasiders boss boss Ian Holloway is in a battle to land both the full-back and the striker.

It is understood the Swans will let Rangel leave for about £750,000.

Holloway wants Dobbie, who is valued at £250,000, as part of the deal but it seems City do not want to sell the forward.

Henri Lansbury challenges Swans' Craig Beattie. SWANSEA City are today poised to beat a host of Championship clubs to the signature of Arsenal starlet Henri Lansbury.

The attacking midfielder is set to arrive on loan until January and could make his debut in tomorrow night's Carling Cup tie at Tranmere if the paperwork is completed in time.

Securing Lansbury's services will be another major coup for Brendan Rodgers following on from the signing of Scott Sinclair.

Arsene Wenger reckons the 19-year-old will be a "big player" for the Gunners in the future — but is prepared to let him leave on loan in order to gain senior experience.

And Swansea looks like being Lansbury's destination despite strong interest from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Paulo Sousa's Leicester City.

Firepower

Rodgers signed Lansbury on loan when he was Watford boss and moved for the England Under-21 international for the second time last week.

And the Swansea manager looks to have got his man once again as he attempts to bring more firepower to his squad.

Lansbury was in Ireland yesterday playing — and scoring — for Arsenal's reserves in a game against Shamrock Rovers.

He was due to train with the London giants this morning, but could feature at Tranmere if the Swansea deal is signed and sealed before midday.

The move west will mean another taste of first-team football for a player who has already made a significant impression during loan spells with Scunthorpe and the Hornets.

Lansbury made his Premier League debut for Arsenal at the end of last season and he has also appeared four times in the League Cup for Wenger's team.

He scored four times in 18 appearances for Scunthorpe as they won promotion from League One in 2008-09. And in a season-long stay with Watford last term, he hit five goals in 39 appearances.

Born in Enfield, Lansbury joined Arsenal in 1999 and has developed into a hugely promising midfielder who is happiest in the centre of the pitch.

The 6ft youngster has represented England through the age groups and agreed a new long-term deal with Arsenal midway through last season. He was linked with Premier League new boys Newcastle and West Brom over the summer.

Lansbury will become Rodgers's second Swansea signing — but the Northern Irishman still wants more.

Ideally, Rodgers wants to sign two strikers before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

He hopes one of those will be West Ham youngster Frank Nouble, while a second will be a more experienced frontman.

PAUL Lambert paid tribute to his Norwich City players for staying alive against a "top side" like Swansea City.

Norwich were outplayed by Swansea for large sections of Saturday's game but snatched an undeserved victory late on.

Ashley Williams's unfortunate own goal and a spectacular 94th-minute volley from Simeon Jackson condemned Swansea to their second defeat in three league games this season.

But Norwich boss Lambert said: "Don't underestimate Swansea — they are a top side. There are not many teams who I've seen come here and pass the ball like they did.

"I watched their game against Preston and they were excellent. They are a really good football side if you give them time to play.

"I thought we started brilliantly, but they then had the bulk of the possession and when that happens you have to hang in there.

"If you stay in a game you can always score a goal and that's what we did. If you hang in there you always have a chance and my players have the ability to do that."

John Ruddy was the Norwich hero despite giving away a late penalty when he felled Scott Sinclair.

Shown yellow rather than red, the former Everton keeper then saved David Cotterill's spot-kick and a rejuvenated Norwich went on to grab the points.

It was a big moment for summer signing Ruddy, who has struggled in his first couple of weeks at Norwich as a result of the form of former stopper Fraser Forster, who impressed while on loan from Newcastle last season.

"He has had to live with the ghost of Fraser Forster, which is not easy after what he did for this club," Lambert added. "Ruddy had that to contend with, but he has been absolutely brilliant for us in the last couple of games and hopefully that save will put things to bed.

"His save galvanised the fans — they were on the up again and the players went on from there."

GARRY Monk is targeting back-to- back wins before the international break as Swansea City aim to bury the memory of their "absolutely unbelievable" defeat at Norwich on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers's men dominated the vast majority of the game at Carrow Road but, having failed to take their chances, were undone by two late Norwich goals.

It was a cruel defeat for Swansea, who looked to be heading for three points when Scott Sinclair won an 84th-minute penalty.

But after John Ruddy pushed David Cotterill's spot-kick on to the post, Ashley Williams turned Anthony McNamee's cross into his own net and Simeon Jackson sealed an unlikely home victory in injury time.

"If we'd got the goal we deserved, everyone would have been delighted and talking about a great performance," Monk said.

"As it was, we conceded near the end and came away with nothing, which is hard to believe.

"I don't think even their players or their crowd could believe it.

"It's absolutely unbelievable that we came away with nothing.

"They were just happy to get through to the end of the game, but the missed penalty gave them a bit of a lift and they ended up winning it."

Monk reckoned there had been "no justice" this weekend, particularly as the referee missed what he called a blatant handball in the lead-up to the first Norwich goal.

But he added: "The fact is that if we keep playing like that, we are going to win a lot more games than we lose this season.

"Apart from the first 15 minutes or so, we completely dominated the game. We were the stronger team coming into half-time and as for the second half, well, like I say, it's ridiculous that we've got nothing to show for it.

"It can be a mad game football — sometimes you can't understand what happens.

"But we have got to bounce back now, and that's something this club have always been good at.

"We will try to do that at Tranmere tomorrow night and then we'll look for another win against Burnley so that we finish well before the international break.

"The performances have been there so far this season and we just have to move on from the Norwich disappointment."

Swansea suffered a blow prior to Norwich when it emerged that Angel Rangel is facing up to six weeks out with a torn thigh muscle.

The injury means the Spaniard's proposed move to Premier League Blackpool now seems certain to be off.

THE way Swansea City play the game, they are always going to create chances in abundance.

"It doesn't matter who they are up against, they will create because that's how they play."

Brendan Rodgers's Swansea were not rewarded for their attacking style at Carrow Road, but their efforts were at least recognised by the Norwich City manager.

Paul Lambert did not quite spell it out, but he knew his team had won a bonus three points this weekend.

Delia was delighted at the end, dancing a jig in the directors' box thanks to a couple of very late Norwich goals.

There were no smiles on Welsh faces, only the frowns of frustration which accompany defeat.

But some losses hurt more than others, and Saturday's cruel conclusion should not leave Swansea down in the dumps for long.

Harry Redknapp talked of a great defeat after Tottenham came back from 3-0 down to lose their Champions League qualifying game with Young Boys only 3-2 last week. Having looked close to dead and buried, Spurs are now favourites to progress.

There is no second leg in the Norwich-Swansea encounter, so the logic is not the same, but this was a rousing reverse.

Memories of Swansea's opening-day fixture in 2007-8, away at Oldham Athletic, came flooding back here. At Boundary Park three years ago, Roberto Martinez's Swansea ran the show almost from start to finish but came away without so much as a point.

The encouraging signs were obvious, and around nine months later Swansea were champions of League One.

Away dominance was not quite as absolute this weekend, for Swansea needed to dig in during an opening spell where Norwich allowed them minimal time on the ball.

But Rodgers's team controlled the majority of the contest with such authority that it was remarkable, just like Oldham, that they did not have so much as a point to grasp on the long journey home.

"I really felt for the players," said Rodgers, who made a point of consoling his team on the pitch at full time.

"They are very disappointed. They are a terrific bunch, so honest and so hungry, and every day they give me everything.

"To have that kind of control, to produce the superb passing and moving sequences we did and to create the chances we did, it is very hard to take coming away with nothing.

"It's different if you get to 80 minutes and you have not created anything, but we did.

"To come in having lost 2-0 after that — the feeling is one of disbelief in the dressing room. We've now got to pick them up and go again."

Garry Monk and Co should not need too much lifting.

There comes a time later in the season when performances do not matter, when results are all that count.

But at this early stage in the campaign, and with a new manager on board, the quality of Swansea's displays is almost as significant as the number of points they bank.

And at Norwich, in front of one of the Championship's bigger crowds and against a team on the up, Swansea performed with a quality that suggests there will be much to enjoy during 2010-11. The only thing lacking, not for the first time with this crop of players, was the killer touch which would have taken the life out of the Canaries.

And in fact it was Swansea's failure to finish which ultimately lifted Norwich and gave them the momentum to steal the game at the death.

"We had the quality to create the chances but we could not take them," lamented Rodgers.

"But we were unfortunate. We didn't sit back and defend, we imposed our game at a wonderful stadium and you could say this was a step forward for us.

"The disappointment is that we didn't get the win we deserved, but I think anyone watching this game would see that we are a team who can cause a problem in this league."

It was Norwich causing problems in a lively opening, Korey Smith firing straight at Dorus de Vries and Andrew Crofts heading just wide from the latest corner to cause concern for Swansea's rearguard.

But with the early storm weathered — and Norwich's pressing game running out of a little steam — the men in black set about dictating the flow of the contest.

The rejuvenated Mark Gower was excellent as the holding midfield player, while Nathan Dyer and the electric Scott Sinclair were in menacing mood out wide.

Cotterill had his moments and Stephen Dobbie was bright, but Swansea could not muster the goal — or indeed goals — that their pleasing passing deserved.

Dobbie saw a point-blank effort blocked, Cotterill fired over and Darren Pratley was snuffed out.

Sinclair, who is living up to his billing in his early days as a Swan, nutmegged centre-back Michael Nelson on a dazzling run which ended with a John Ruddy save.

Dobbie, Dyer and Cotterill all had further efforts before Sinclair's pace earned the penalty which ought to have won it for Swansea.

Ruddy dodged a red card after felling the former Chelsea winger, and Swansea were left to rue that decision when the Norwich keeper leapt to his right to push Cotterill's spot-kick on to the post.

Inspired by a brilliant save, Norwich snatched the lead when Anthony McNamee — who gathered possession after what looked like a Grant Holt handball — crossed and the unfortunate Ashley Williams skewed an attempted clearance into his own net.

To rub salt into Swansea wounds, Simeon Jackson applied a layer of gloss to an already wonky scoreline with a sweet volley in stoppage time.

"Last week we were fantastic, and in this game we were very, very good," Rodgers said. "We just didn't get the result, and sometimes that's what happens when you play the way we do.

"But I'd much rather do that and lose a game and learn from it, because I know that further down the line we'll get our rewards."

The puzzle is working out exactly how they did not get anything here.

Even as bright a light as Norwich's new director, Stephen Fry, may struggle to work that one out.

SWANSEA City are today poised to beat a host of Championship clubs to the signature of Arsenal starlet Henri Lansbury.

The attacking midfielder is set to arrive on loan until January and could make his debut in tomorrow night's Carling Cup tie at Tranmere if the paperwork is completed in time.

Securing Lansbury's services will be another major coup for Brendan Rodgers following on from the signing of Scott Sinclair.

Arsene Wenger reckons the 19-year-old will be a "big player" for the Gunners in the future — but is prepared to let him leave on loan in order to gain senior experience.

And Swansea looks like being Lansbury's destination despite strong interest from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Paulo Sousa's Leicester City.

Firepower

Rodgers signed Lansbury on loan when he was Watford boss and moved for the England Under-21 international for the second time last week.

And the Swansea manager looks to have got his man once again as he attempts to bring more firepower to his squad.

Lansbury was in Ireland yesterday playing — and scoring — for Arsenal's reserves in a game against Shamrock Rovers.

He was due to train with the London giants this morning, but could feature at Tranmere if the Swansea deal is signed and sealed before midday.

The move west will mean another taste of first-team football for a player who has already made a significant impression during loan spells with Scunthorpe and the Hornets.

Lansbury made his Premier League debut for Arsenal at the end of last season and he has also appeared four times in the League Cup for Wenger's team.

He scored four times in 18 appearances for Scunthorpe as they won promotion from League One in 2008-09. And in a season-long stay with Watford last term, he hit five goals in 39 appearances.

Born in Enfield, Lansbury joined Arsenal in 1999 and has developed into a hugely promising midfielder who is happiest in the centre of the pitch.

The 6ft youngster has represented England through the age groups and agreed a new long-term deal with Arsenal midway through last season. He was linked with Premier League new boys Newcastle and West Brom over the summer.

Lansbury will become Rodgers's second Swansea signing — but the Northern Irishman still wants more.

Ideally, Rodgers wants to sign two strikers before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

He hopes one of those will be West Ham youngster Frank Nouble, while a second will be a more experienced frontman.

SWANSEA CITY captain Garry Monk admits his side were left shell-shocked by their last-gasp defeat at Norwich, writes Tim Lewis.

The Swans dominated the game with 60% of possession and double the amount of shots both on and off target as the home side.

But despite their control of an encounter at Carrow Road, Paul Lambert’s side stole all three points thanks to an Ashley Williams own goal and an injury-time wonder strike from Simeon Jackson.

Monk said: “Football is a mad, mad game sometimes.

“There is no justice sometimes. Everyone is a bit shell-shocked about how we lost the game. In the second half there was only one team who were looking to win the game, that was us.

“I don’t think their players or the crowd could quite believe they won it. They looked like they were just happy to get to the end.

“It’s ridiculous that we came away with nothing.”

David Cotterill’s missed penalty proved to be the turning point, but Monk believes Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy should have been sent off for his challenge on Scott Sinclair leading up to the spot-kick.

Monk was also unhappy with referee Phil Crossley for failing to give a handball against Grant Holt in the moment which led to Williams sliding the ball into his own net.

“The keeper should have gone,” said Monk. “Scott was straight through on goal, his touch was a bit wide of goal.

“But I think the rule is he was in on goal, so it should have been a sending-off.

“At the time we were just happy we had the penalty with a few minutes to go, if we score it it’s game over.

“I said to the ref he should have been sent off, but he said he took his touch wide.

“Then in the build-up to the second it was a blatant handball before the goal, one of the most blatant you’ll ever see, but the ref played on.”

Swansea face another long trip to Tranmere tomorrow night in the Carling Cup before Burnley travel to the Liberty next Saturday.

“If we play like that every week we are going to win a lot more games than we lose,” said Monk. “We’re good at bouncing back and we have to make sure we do that on Tuesday.”

SWANSEA CITY are waiting to see if Angel Rangel’s spell on the sidelines will curtail Blackpool’s interest in him.

The Spanish defender missed Swansea’s 2-0 defeat at Norwich on Saturday and will miss between four and six weeks with a torn thigh muscle.

Blackpool have courted the talented right-back all summer and were reported to have had a £750,000 bid rejected last month.

“When I went for the scan during the week it showed that I had a small tear,” said Rangel, who suffered the injury in the 4-0 home victory over Preston nine days ago.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m just going to have to keep an eye on it over the next few weeks.”

Rangel missed the opening-day loss at Hull City after pulling out in the warm-up with a thigh problem which he suffered in pre-season.

The late withdrawal sparked speculation that Blackpool would get their man but Rangel returned for Swansea’s first home league game of the season.

It was reported over the weekend that Blackpool boss Ian Holloway had not given up on a double deal involving Rangel and team-mate Stephen Dobbie.

Scottish striker Dobbie had a successful loan spell at Blackpool last season when the Tangerines were promoted to the Premier League.

Dobbie was out of favour under Paulo Sousa last season but has enjoyed game-time under Brendan Rodgers, scoring against Preston.

But Rangel’s injury might force Holloway to look elsewhere.

Brendan admitted he felt for his disbelieving players as Swansea City lost out on a first away win in cruel fashion at Carrow Road.

But he insisted they had every reason to be proud of a performance that looked like delivering three points before John Ruddy’s penalty save sparked a Canary win.

Rodgers, whose side lost 2-0, said his players had shown they can answer defensive questions away from home as well as asking plenty of questions of the Norwich side with an impressive attacking showing.

But he conceded he had to lift his men as the win was taken away at the death – telling them they had still taken a step forward as they get used to life under the former Reading and Watford chief.

“The performance was very, very good – but that’s what makes it so disappointing to have lost,” Rodgers said, after Ruddy’s save from David Cotterill’s spot kick was quickly followed up by an Ashley Williams own goal and a injury time Simeon Jackson strike that won the contest.

“For the first 10 or 15 minutes their shape gave us some problems but after that we controlled things and our passing and movement was outstanding.

“We created chances which was important and then having a penalty in the last 10 minutes and still losing hurts. But a really good save changed the momentum.

“I really felt for them because they are so honest and hungry and it was hard to take. The feeling in the dressing room was one of disbelief.

“But as much as you look to win games, that’s what I’m here to do, I am about performances as well and anyone watching that game would have seen a team causing real problems.

“Last week was fantastic, this was very very good – but we didn’t get the result.

“Sometimes that will happen when you play this way but it is still a step forward.”

DORUS DEVRIES

Had to cope with a crowded box for set-pieces but did well enough and made the important stops when he had to before late sickeners.

7

ALBERT SERRAN

Struggled positionally and for pace after being drafted in for thigh injury victim Rangel. Did improve but not enough to stop him being replaced by Taylor at break.

5

GARRY MONK (Capt)

Back to his best after slow start to the season and covered Serran when had to. Physical battle with Holt but came out on top.

7

ASHLEY WILLIAMS

A couple of uncharacteristic wrong decisions from the Wales defender but had stayed strong before late own-goal horror.

6

ALAN TATE

Iffy start and will have more to deal with in new system, but improved as game went on and coped nicely with swap to right flank after break.

7

MARK GOWER

Man of the match: Excellent stuff from Gower in quarterback role. Able to mix the passing and was as capable in finding men near and far. Settled the midfield and brought balance to play.

8

DARREN PRATLEY

Took a time to get going as Swansea faltered at back but then really motored and able to hold middle ground as well as break into box.

7

DAVID COTTERILL

Couldn’t impose himself on game under watchful eye of Wales colleagues Crofts but still looked lively and proved threat when switched back to flank. Hard lucky with penalty.

7

NATHAN DYER

As impressive in work-rate as he was in wing play. Constantly asked questions of marker and unlucky not to find answer. Made way after recovering from injury in week.

7

STEPHEN DOBBIE

Held line well even if you would like the Scot to be a little stronger. Quick feet almost brought rewards.

7

SCOTT SINCLAIR

A joy to watch. Speed is frightening and happy to go direct – as was proved with penalty. Another unlucky not to have more to show for efforts.

8

SUBSTITUTES: Neil Taylor (for Serran 46), Andrea Orlandi (for Dyer 64); Subs not used: D Cornell, C van der Gun, J Lopez, J Allen, S Kuqi

SCORERS Norwich: Williams og 87, Jackson 92

BOOKINGS

Norwich: Martin 61, Ruddy 86

Swansea: Gower 76

REFEREE: Phil Crossley (Kent)

ATTENDANCE: 23,852

NORWICH: J Ruddy; R Martin, M Nelson(J Askou), E Ward, A Drury; K Smith, A Crofts, W Hoolahan(S Jackson 81), A Surman(A McNamee 64); G Holt (capt), C Martin.Subs not used: D Rudd, D Fox, S Lappin, O Johnson

Swansea City left Norwich last night cursing their Ruddy bad luck after seeing an overdue away win vanish before their eyes.

When the superb Scott Sinclair saw his legs taken away for a penalty just four minutes from time at a goalless Carrow Road, a first Swans victory on the road in six months looked as much assured as it was deserved.

But giant goalkeeper John Ruddy’s save sparked a turnaround in fortunes that wrecked those hopes – and ruined the celebrations of the travelling fans.

Because from having the three points in their grasp, an Ashley Williams own goal 60 seconds later snatched them away.

And if that was cruel, then there was no sympathy from sub Simeon Jackson when he smashed a second in injury time to make it a long old journey back to South Wales.

Dominating and deserving without delivering the points? Sounds like same old Swansea.

But it was far from it. The possession was present, but there they did not struggle for chances thanks to the inroads made by speedster Sinclair and others.

And there was certainly no reining in of the attacking ambition that impressed so many last week, all balanced by an excellent “quarterback” performance from Mark Gower.

There was a shaky start, but the on-the-road resolution Rodgers had called for was present and enabled Swansea to take control.

So, if David Cotterill’s penalty had been the slightest of measurements over to the right of Ruddy, the summer signing from Everton wouldn’t have been able to push the ball onto the post.

But the save was made, the momentum shifted and Rodgers needed to take to the field to console his players following the final whistle.

Still, he can also take plenty of heart into the near future, especially if he can land two new signings – a striker and midfielder – this week.

There could be a call for cover at right-back, with Angel Rangel expected to be out for up to six weeks with a thigh injury.

His replacement, Albert Serran, a centre-half playing at full-back, is not blessed with tremendous pace and clearly struggled as Wes Hoolahan pushed wide and Andrew Surman pushed on to help Norwich out of the blocks.

But he does not make it easy for himself when he ball watches, allowing Hoolahan to slip past on 15 minutes before a clever Grant Holt lay-off gave Smith a shooting chance at the far post.

Thankfully for Rodgers’ men, Dorus de Vries saved well with his legs before Alan Tate used his experience and his body strength to see off the goal threat.

But still Norwich pressed down the left, Chris Martin getting to the byline before his cross slipped through the hands of Dutchman de Vries.

Norwich did not capitalise – and failed to do so again on 26 minutes when Surman’s precise corner saw Wales international Andrew Crofts head wide.

But Swansea had settled by now and were increasingly becoming a problem for the hosts, slowly beginning to frustrate. While Paul Lambert had sent his side to press at pace, the Canaries couldn’t help but fall off the high tempo as Swansea stroked their passes around.

And, with the defence finding their feet and midfield controlling things more, so Swansea began to probe.

First it took a superbly timed Elliot Ward block on 29 minutes to stop Stephen Dobbie’s shot finding the net after Sinclair’s step-overs were followed by a clever pass to the Scot.

Then, with Dyer carrying on where he left off last week, he skipped past marker Adam Drury only for his byline cross to be a tad too hard.

Dobbie went close after Serran stretched play with a long ball before Dyer again left Drury standing six minutes from the break, Cotterill blazing over unmarked from the pull-back when he had time to take a touch and place the shot.

And just before the half-time whistle went, Ward had to pull out the penalty box heroics once again when Sinclair lofted a pass to Dyer at the back post who in return found Pratley ready to pounce.

Swansea still needed to be alert defensively such was their eagerness to attack away from home, and when Cotterill lost out to Hoolahan in the middle of the park, de Vries had to keep his eye on the ball to gather the skimming shot.

Yet it was Swansea who were going forward with purpose – and Sinclair was leading by example.

Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal on 54 minutes, he ran straight at a crowd of yellow shirts, leaving two for dead and nutmegging Michael Nelson when the defender lunged a challenge at the ex-Chelsea starlet, his shot not matching the build-up.

Cotterill saw one goalbound shot deflected over, before Sinclair and Dobbie linked up well that allowed the Scot to try his luck.

And then, with 18 minutes to go, Drury had to react quickly when Cotterill’s cross squirmed across the face of the goal begging for a touch.

But the breakthrough looked to have come when Ruddy took Sinclair’s legs away from him after sub Andrea Orlandi’s excellent pass, only for the giant keeper to save his own skin.

If that stuck in the throat of Swans fans, it was rammed down a minute later when Williams had the killer near-post connection on Anthony McNamee’s whipped cross, Holt handballing in the build-up for good measure.

And then after the otherwise impressive Neil Taylor lost possession, Martin and Holt combined before Jackson wrapped things up in injury time with an excellent first-time volley.

DORUS DE VRIES says he will never underestimate newly-promoted sides in the Championship – because that’s what teams did to Swansea City.

Swans’ opponents today, Norwich City, return to the Championship having swept aside all before them in League One last season, as the Swans did under Roberto Martinez in 2007-08.

The Swans finished 10 points clear of second-placed Nottingham Forest on their way to the title, a point better off than Norwich, who were nine points ahead of Leeds last year.

Many pundits tipped Swansea to struggle in their first season in the Championship, claiming Martinez’s passing game was too pretty to pick up points in a league renowned for its physicality.

They proved many people wrong to finish a whisker away from the play-off places and de Vries says the experience makes him very wary of teams coming up as champions.

He said: “Norwich are a team you can’t underestimate.

“I can remember our first season in the Championship well. Nobody really knows what you are like as a team and they didn’t pay us any attention.

“When we were in League One people were saying we played nice football, but questioned if could we win games with the same style in the Championship.

“We showed we could. We won League One comfortably, we had the best team in the division and we deserved to be champions.

“And we did it by playing good football.

“When we went up to the next division instead of finding it really hard, it was more suited to our style of football.”

Like Swansea in 2008, Norwich lost their opening game of the season, at home to Watford, but bounced back to register their first three points in the second game of the season.

Norwich’s win away at Scunthorpe United came thanks to a 90th-minute header from former-Swansea target Grant Holt.

De Vries said: “Norwich are a big club and they will want to make a name for themselves, again like we did.

“They dropped out of the Championship but went straight back up again, they did really well last season in League One.

“Norwich lost their opening game, but they showed some good commitment to come back last week.

“I’m sure they will be full of confidence and looking forward to the challenge of establishing themselves back in the Championship.”

Norwich boss Paul Lambert has been busy in the transfer market since winning League One, tying down some successful loan players from last season and bringing in new faces.

Swans boss Brendan Rodgers said: “It will be a tough game. Norwich are a massive club.

“I remember going there as a manager with Watford and it’s a terrific place to go and play football.

“Paul did an excellent job there last season, getting them out of the division at the first attempt.

“They play a system which can hurt you if you don’t do your homework. I’ve played and had success with it in the past.”

Goalkeeper John Ruddy arrived at Carrow Road from Everton, Andrew Surman joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers, David Fox came from Colchester and Elliot Ward signed from Coventry.

Lambert also completed the signing of promising youngster Simeon Jackson on a two-year contract.

Ruddy, Surman and Ward have all gone straight into the starting XI this season and the Canaries are still being linked with more players.

“Clubs like Norwich and Leeds United have great financial backing and that is something to rest of the division has got to deal with,” said 29-year-old de Vries.

“The Championship has got stronger, the teams who have gone down and come up are all big clubs, with great histories.

“They’ve got facilities and great support, things top players are attracted to went they look at a club. It gives them a great base to get good players.

“Nobody should under-estimate anyone in this league. Last season Sheffield Wednesday went down and we were in and around the play-off positions, I don’t many people would have predicted it.”

The Swans last trip to Carrow Road – a 600-mile round journey – resulted in an excellent 3-2 win in November 2008.

A goal just before half-time from Jason Scotland and two quick goals within three minutes of the break from Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde were enough to give Swansea the points.

De Vries missed the game after breaking his jaw in the home match against Queens Park Rangers a few weeks before.

The Dutch stopper said: “I’m looking forward to getting up there and playing for the first time because it’s a great stadium and will be a full house.

“We want to keep our season going, we had a win in the Carling Cup and then an excellent result last weekend against Preston so we are full of confidence.

“We want to build on that success. It’s all to do with confidence and belief and we’ve got the quality to do that.

“It was a great effort last Saturday and we want to show the same mentality again.

“The guys wanted to prove that we can score goals as a team.”

Norwich scored 89 goals on their way to the League One title, with 67 of those coming from their attacking trio of Grant Holt, Chris Martin and Wes Hoolahan.

They have a reputation for an attacking style of play, especially at home, under Lambert, but de Vries insists Swansea are happy to come up against these sort of teams.

He said: “A lot of teams in this division don’t like to try and play the sort of football we do.

“But more and more teams are trying to play football from the back, keep good possession and make lots of passes.

“It’s good to see teams playing the way we do, I’d like to think it means we have made an impact in this league and we do get some credit for it.

“We had a belief that we had players in the squad who could easily adapt to this level.

“The Championship is a good standard and you need a lot of quality, especially the way we play because it takes lot of focus and discipline.

“Teams like us, Doncaster, Leicester, have come up and made their mark so Norwich will feel they can do the same.”

SWANSEA City's pursuit of a new striker is set to go beyond the weekend — manager Brendan Rodgers hopes a deal can be made on Monday.

Rodgers had been hoping to seal the signature on one of his two signings this weekend, but it looks like the Swansea boss will be made to wait.

With Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi as the only fit strikers available, Rodgers is desperate to add options in the forwards department.

Gorka Pintado has just been ruled out for up to three months, while Craig Beattie is sidelined with a calf problem.

And with Swansea interested in the loan signing of West Ham teenager Frank Nouble, a deal for the striker is not expected to go through until Monday.

Swansea have been competing with former manager Paulo Sousa — now at Leicester City — in the race for Nouble, while Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill has rubbished rumours linking him with the England Under-19s forward.

But Nouble, who worked with Rodgers in Chelsea's youth system, is tipped to link up with his former boss again and sign a loan deal at the Liberty.

The 18-year-old has made eight appearances for the Hammers, while he also spent time on loan at West Brom and Swindon last season.

DORUS DE VRIES says he will never underestimate newly-promoted sides in the Championship – because that’s what teams did to Swansea City.

Swans’ opponents today, Norwich City, return to the Championship having swept aside all before them in League One last season, as the Swans did under Roberto Martinez in 2007-08.

The Swans finished 10 points clear of second-placed Nottingham Forest on their way to the title, a point better off than Norwich, who were nine points ahead of Leeds last year.

Many pundits tipped Swansea to struggle in their first season in the Championship, claiming Martinez’s passing game was too pretty to pick up points in a league renowned for its physicality.

They proved many people wrong to finish a whisker away from the play-off places and de Vries says the experience makes him very wary of teams coming up as champions.

He said: “Norwich are a team you can’t underestimate.

“I can remember our first season in the Championship well. Nobody really knows what you are like as a team and they didn’t pay us any attention.

“When we were in League One people were saying we played nice football, but questioned if could we win games with the same style in the Championship.

“We showed we could. We won League One comfortably, we had the best team in the division and we deserved to be champions.

“And we did it by playing good football.

“When we went up to the next division instead of finding it really hard, it was more suited to our style of football.”

Like Swansea in 2008, Norwich lost their opening game of the season, at home to Watford, but bounced back to register their first three points in the second game of the season.

Norwich’s win away at Scunthorpe United came thanks to a 90th-minute header from former-Swansea target Grant Holt.

De Vries said: “Norwich are a big club and they will want to make a name for themselves, again like we did.

“They dropped out of the Championship but went straight back up again, they did really well last season in League One.

“Norwich lost their opening game, but they showed some good commitment to come back last week.

“I’m sure they will be full of confidence and looking forward to the challenge of establishing themselves back in the Championship.”

Norwich boss Paul Lambert has been busy in the transfer market since winning League One, tying down some successful loan players from last season and bringing in new faces.

Swans boss Brendan Rodgers said: “It will be a tough game. Norwich are a massive club.

“I remember going there as a manager with Watford and it’s a terrific place to go and play football.

“Paul did an excellent job there last season, getting them out of the division at the first attempt.

“They play a system which can hurt you if you don’t do your homework. I’ve played and had success with it in the past.”

Goalkeeper John Ruddy arrived at Carrow Road from Everton, Andrew Surman joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers, David Fox came from Colchester and Elliot Ward signed from Coventry.

Lambert also completed the signing of promising youngster Simeon Jackson on a two-year contract.

Ruddy, Surman and Ward have all gone straight into the starting XI this season and the Canaries are still being linked with more players.

“Clubs like Norwich and Leeds United have great financial backing and that is something to rest of the division has got to deal with,” said 29-year-old de Vries.

“The Championship has got stronger, the teams who have gone down and come up are all big clubs, with great histories.

“They’ve got facilities and great support, things top players are attracted to went they look at a club. It gives them a great base to get good players.

“Nobody should under-estimate anyone in this league. Last season Sheffield Wednesday went down and we were in and around the play-off positions, I don’t many people would have predicted it.”

The Swans last trip to Carrow Road – a 600-mile round journey – resulted in an excellent 3-2 win in November 2008.

A goal just before half-time from Jason Scotland and two quick goals within three minutes of the break from Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde were enough to give Swansea the points.

De Vries missed the game after breaking his jaw in the home match against Queens Park Rangers a few weeks before.

The Dutch stopper said: “I’m looking forward to getting up there and playing for the first time because it’s a great stadium and will be a full house.

“We want to keep our season going, we had a win in the Carling Cup and then an excellent result last weekend against Preston so we are full of confidence.

“We want to build on that success. It’s all to do with confidence and belief and we’ve got the quality to do that.

“It was a great effort last Saturday and we want to show the same mentality again.

“The guys wanted to prove that we can score goals as a team.”

Norwich scored 89 goals on their way to the League One title, with 67 of those coming from their attacking trio of Grant Holt, Chris Martin and Wes Hoolahan.

They have a reputation for an attacking style of play, especially at home, under Lambert, but de Vries insists Swansea are happy to come up against these sort of teams.

He said: “A lot of teams in this division don’t like to try and play the sort of football we do.

“But more and more teams are trying to play football from the back, keep good possession and make lots of passes.

“It’s good to see teams playing the way we do, I’d like to think it means we have made an impact in this league and we do get some credit for it.

“We had a belief that we had players in the squad who could easily adapt to this level.

“The Championship is a good standard and you need a lot of quality, especially the way we play because it takes lot of focus and discipline.

“Teams like us, Doncaster, Leicester, have come up and made their mark so Norwich will feel they can do the same.”

Blue Square Bet Premier newcomers Newport County have re-signed Swansea City winger Kerry Morgan on loan until January 1st 2011, although County hope to extend the deal for the full season.

Morgan spent six months on loan with the Exiles last season and was instrumental in their record 103-point tally as they stormed to the Conference South title.

County boss Dean Holdsworth said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure the services of Kerry Morgan, initially until the January transfer window.

“Kerry was a key member of last year`s side and played some really exciting football. He provides us with yet another dimension on the pitch and goes straight in to contention for Saturday's squad to take on Histon.”

Wales Under-21 boss Brian Flynn has included five Swansea City players in his squad for the final two Uefa U21 qualifiers in Hungary and Italy.

Goalkeeper David Cornell, defenders Neil Taylor and Ashley Richards, along with midfielders Shaun MacDonald and Joe Allen have received calls.

Tranmere defender Ashton Taylor is the only uncapped player in the 20-man squad for the 4 and 7 September games.

Wales lead Group Three with two games to go against their two nearest rivals.

Flynn's side have 13 points from six games with Hungary one point behind and Italy three.

Wales drew the opening match away in Luxembourg before winning the next four games, home to Luxembourg, Hungary, Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but lost their last outing in Bosnia in November.

They have failed to win their two friendlies this year, losing 1-0 in Austria in May before being held 1-1 by Malta earlier this month.

But now Wales refocus and aim to go one better than two years ago when they missed out on a place in the European Championships to England in the qualifying play-offs. England eventually lost to Germany in the final.

Flynn has also included in his squad 16-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams, who made his debut in the Malta draw.

Fellow one-caps Tom Bender, Adam Matthews and Ryan Doble also make the squad while uncapped defensive duo Josh Dawkin of Norwich City and Blackurn Rovers' Adam Henley are on stand-by.

Also on standby for a first call up are Manchester United midfielder Tom Lawrence and West Bromich Albion striker Kayelden Brown.

Two more Swansea City players, midfielder Lee Lucas and striker Casey Thomas join them on the reserve list.

Wales Under-21 squad: David Cornell (Swansea City), Chris Maxwell (Wrexham), Tom Bender (Colchester United), Adam Matthews (Cardiff City), Aaron Morris (Aldershot Town), Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City), Ashley Richards (Swansea City), Ashton Taylor (Tranmere Rovers), Neil Taylor (Swansea City), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Mark Bradley (Rotherham United), Ryan Doble (Southampton), Shaun MacDonald (Swansea City), Joe Partington (AFC Bournemouth), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Jake Taylor (Reading), Marc Williams (Wrexham).

Stand-by: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Josh Dawkin (Norwich City), Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers), David Stephens (Hibernian), Tom Lawrence (Manchester United), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Kayelden Brown (West Bromich Albion), Casey Thomas (Swansea City).

Norwich manager Paul Lambert will name an unchanged squad for the visit of Swansea.

The Canaries picked up their first win back in the Championship last weekend when captain Grant Holt's stoppage-time header earned a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe, and Lambert may name the same XI.

Holt will continue to be partnered in attack by Chris Martin, so summer signing Simeon Jackson will have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

Youngster Korey Smith has impressed in midfield since returning from an ankle injury, so David Fox will also be left out.

Former Rangers left-back Steven Smith will have to wait for his first start as he is still recovering from an ankle injury while fellow defender Zak Whitbread is a doubt after sustaining a problem in a recent friendly.

Swansea will be without the services of Gorka Pintado for the trip to Norwich after the striker underwent shoulder surgery.

The 32-year-old Spaniard suffered the injury during the Swans' opening day defeat at Hull and now faces up to three months out.

Pintado's fellow striker Craig Beattie (calf) is also on the sidelines alongside midfielders Ferrie Bodde (knee) and Tom Butler (thigh).

Winger Nathan Dyer could return from a leg injury to bolster boss Brendan Rodgers' attacking options, but the squad will travel to Carrow Road with Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi as the only fully fit strikers.

Thankfully for Rodgers, goals would not appear to be a problem after the Swans romped to a 4-0 victory over Preston last weekend.

BRENDAN RODGERS insists he is hours away from landing the striker he’s been chasing – with West Ham starlet Frank Nouble believed to be the target.

But the Swans boss revealed he is also close to pulling off a swoop for a goalscoring midfielder before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

Rodgers had set his sights on a new frontman from the moment he walked into the Liberty Stadium four weeks ago.

And the need for an attacking alternative to current leading man Stephen Dobbie has intensified following injuries to Gorka Pintado and Craig Beattie.

But Rodgers was hopeful yesterday of bringing an end to his search for an extra option up front with a loan move for England Under-19 ace Nouble believed to be on the cards.

The deal for Nouble would be something of a coup for Rodgers with the 18-year-old, who has made eight Premier League appearances for the Hammers, attracting serious interest from Portsmouth and Paulo Sousa’s Leicester.

But it is thought Rodgers is not ready to stop there, hinting of the possibility that another new striker is on the cards.

And he admitted he is hopeful of also drafting in an “exciting” midfielder that could help Swansea maintain the return to goalscoring form displayed in last Saturday’s 4-0 home rout of Preston.

Speaking before tomorrow’s trip to newly-promoted Norwich City, Rodgers said: “It’s on-going, but I hope over the next couple of days we can bring in a couple more players.

“One will be a striker and one another type for us who can add goals.

“ And then we’ll ramp it up in the next few weeks to get the type of striker we want.

“But we will look to bring someone in the next 24-48 hours who can play high up the field and then another exciting talent to get us goals from the midfield areas.”

Rodgers did not directly state Nouble was the player he was hoping of attracting to the Liberty before the weekend, but did admit later he is in discussions with the former Chelsea youngster about a switch, thought to be a season-long loan.

“Frank’s one that I worked with at Chelsea and he’s an excellent prospect for the future,” said Rodgers.

“He’s got a lot of potential. He’s 6ft 3in, he’s quick, he’s strong and I think he can score goals at this level so he’s one that we’re in discussion with and we’ll see where it goes.”

Rodgers has been linked with a plethora of strikers since replacing Sousa in South Wales, but has so far been frustrated in his attempts to land a new frontman.

It is thought he has been keen on making a move for Watford striker Danny Graham, only to see the Hornets bat away all enquiries while slapping an inflated transfer tag on the 25-year-old.

Bournemouth’s Brett Pitman was the latest name to be put in the frame for the Liberty, but, although he was being tracked by Swansea, he is not someone Rodgers has designs on with the Cherries star now looking likely to sign for Premier League new boys Blackpool.

With Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien also close to agreeing a deal, Rodgers will know he will have to move on some of his fringe players to satisfy both the 25-man senior squad rule and the club’s wage budget.

But it is clear Rodgers believes the new signings he is chasing will first give much-needed strength ready to try and mount a challenge this season.

After last year’s issues in front of goal, Rodgers has immediately set about correcting the fault – in terms of personnel and play.

The former Reading and Watford chief admits he has been pleased with the response from his players to his attacking aims for the side.

But, although he is keen to see his team take the same ambitious play to Carrow Road tomorrow, he insists Swansea have not become a kamikaze outifit.

“Against Preston, it was a very good attacking performance and we want to take the same attitude and ambition into every game,” said the 37-year-old.

“But it’s not a gamble – it’s my idea of the football I want to play and the players here give me the belief to do it.

“It’s offensive play that gives lots of possibilities to score, but with lots of discipline.

It’s not kamikaze.

“We have to work hard and with intensity to get the ball back and that allows us to have possession to go forward again.”

And, speaking specifically of taking the same stylish show on the road, Rodgers added: “The intention is to do what we’ve done at home, away from home – I’m not going to tell them to put the reins on things.

“The players here have a wonderful ability to keep the ball and I feel very confident going to any arena in this league with this group of players.

“There is a natural tendency to be a bit tentative away from home and there are times where you will be on the back foot, but they are the times where we will have to maker sure we are solid, compact and build the blocks so we can play our game.

“I’ve no fears or worries over that. Last week was fantastic but we have to have the same determination away.”

SWANSEA CITY captain Garry Monk has declared the entire Championship will have to raise their game following Cardiff City’s shock capture of Craig Bellamy.

Monk has warned every club, including his own Swans, that a new standard will be set after the Bluebirds pulled off the stunning transfer coup.

He accepts Bellamy’s arrival, next to Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, Ross McCormack, Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke, gives Cardiff frightening firepower.

But Monk also insisted that, despite Bellamy’s presence making the Bluebirds one of the favourites to take the title, the topsy-turvy division will remain as unpredictable as always.

Monk said of Bellamy dropping out of the Premier League: “It’s a shock to say the least – but his presence will raise the bar in the whole division.

“Bellamy is a world-class player who has been at the very top level, with some of the best teams in the best league on the world ... and is good enough to still be there.

“It’s massive coup for the Championship as a whole – not just for Cardiff – to have a player of his stature amongst us.

“He is a player who can trouble the best defenders around, so everyone will have to be on top of their game when they come up against him.”

But Monk maintained there will not be any easy pickings for the star-studded Bluebirds in a league that is still renowned for its openness.

“Cardiff obviously have players who can score goals and Bellamy brings blistering pace into their team,” said the 31-year-old.

“He is someone who could have a really great time in this division because you would expect him to score goals.

“But the nature of this league is that it’s tough for any team and that won’t change.

“We see the surprises every single week and when it comes to promotion no-one will run away with it and it will be as open as always.

“A lot of sides will be aiming to do well and that’s the challenge for each and every one of us.”

And Monk claims Swansea have every right to consider themselves among the promotion hopefuls too, given their encouraging start under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

While Bellamy will be marking his homecoming in Cardiff’s home clash with Doncaster, Swansea will be looking to follow up their 4-0 blitzing of Preston when they travel to newly-promoted Norwich.

“We need to carry that on, especially away from home. We need to step up a level on the road to ensure we can be there or thereabouts,” said Monk.

“And, if we get in one or two new signings, then we have as good a chance as anyone to really compete.”

Morgan spent most of last season on loan at Newport County
Swansea City striker Kerry Morgan has re-joined Newport County on a five-month loan deal.

Morgan, 21, spent most of last season at Spytty Park to help the Exiles reach the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Merthyr Tydfil-bred Morgan made five Swans appearances in August 2009, then moved to Newport.

He returns for a second stint and goes straight into contention for a place against Histon on Saturday as Newport seek their season's first win.

Principality Welsh Premier club Haverfordwest County have signed former Wales squad member and Swansea City midfielder Matty Collins, who had been linked with a move to league rivals Neath.

Merthyr-born Collins is equally at home anywhere in midfield and also played at right-back when Roberto Martinez was in charge at the Liberty Stadium.

Released by new manager Brendan Rogers earlier this month, Collins is expected to make his Bluebirds' debut away at Prestatyn Town on Saturday.

"My club have great ambitions and this signing underlines that fact. My negotiations with Matty were very straightforward," says County boss Derek Brazil.

"It is good to deal with a player who is motivated not purely by money. A player of his quality would be a great asset to any Welsh Premier club and it is a great compliment that he has chosen to join us."

The 24-year-old Collins has represented Wales at under-17,19 and 21 levels and was also included in the full Welsh squad against Georgia two years ago.

He has also played for Swindon Town, Fulham and Wrexham, where he spent a period on loan.

BRENDAN Rodgers is pledging to keep on attacking at Norwich City tomorrow as he closes in on a loan deal for West Ham's Frank Nouble.

Rodgers last night confirmed that he is targeting Nouble — as the Evening Post revealed on Tuesday — after being frustrated in moves for Tamas Priskin, Danny Graham and Leroy Lita.

Swansea's manager describes the 6ft 3in 18-year-old as "an excellent prospect" having worked with him at Chelsea and is in discussions over a loan move.

But whether Nouble arrives in time to feature at Carrow Road or not — he would need to be signed before midday tomorrow — Rodgers insists Swansea will go at the Canaries.

Rodgers chalked up his first league victory since taking over at the Liberty with a swashbuckling 4-0 triumph against Preston North End last weekend.

And he said: "The intention is to play the same way against Norwich.

"We certainly don't enter into games feeling we have to pull the reins back or sit back.

"The players have a wonderful ability to keep possession, and I feel very confident going into any arena in this league with this group.

"Of course, when you go away from home you will be on the back foot at some stage and we have to make sure we build our blocks correctly.

"But we have got great confidence that we can go to Norwich and play as we normally do — there are no worries about that.

"The way we play is not a gamble, it's just how I like my teams to play. We will go there with the same attitude and ambition as last week, looking to score goals and looking to win."

Swansea passed their way past Preston, and Rodgers believes they can do the same even away from their own patch.

Whether he sticks with David Cotterill in central midfield or plays a more defensive-minded player will be an interesting call.

But the Northern Irishman stresses that even last Saturday's free-flowing display did not come at the expense of solidity.

"It's not kamikaze," he added.

"We attacked against Preston but we did it with discipline, and the clean sheet was just as important as the four goals.

"It's the way we work. We work with great intensity to get the ball back and that allows us to have lots of possession.

"We can play that way away as well as at home as long as we have the ambition and determination to get results."

Swansea's one fresh injury concern is Nathan Dyer, who has missed some training this week because of a sore foot.

"Nathan has an ongoing problem which means he sometimes needs a bit of rest, but we hope he will be in contention," Rodgers said.

Norwich, last season's runaway League One champions, are close to full strength as they look for a first home league success of the new campaign.

And Rodgers warned: "This will be tough for us because Norwich are a wonderful club with really passionate supporters.

"Paul (Lambert) did an excellent job getting them straight back up last season and they play a system that can trouble you if you don't do your work."

gareth.vincent@swwmedia.co.uk

SWANSEA City fans travelling away from home this season should keep all ticket stubs for any future priority ticket deals.

NORWICH City have announced that Swans supporters can pay on the day at Carrow Road tomorrow.

TICKETS for Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Tranmere are on sale now at amended prices. Adult tickets are £15.50, over-60s and young people (aged 17-22) £10-50 and under-16s are £6.

KERRY Morgan was last night set to rejoin Newport County on loan until January 1.

The 21-year-old Swansea City forward enjoyed a successful stint at Spytty Park last season, when he helped the Exiles to promotion from the Blue Square South.

Now Morgan is poised to return to Newport as they attempt to establish themselves in the Blue Square Premier.

Merthyr-born Morgan impressed in Swansea's Carling Cup win over Barnet last week, but he faces fierce competition for a regular place at the Liberty.

COMPARED to last season, Norwich City's latest opening-day home defeat was like a walk in the park.

Unfancied Watford may have raised a few eyebrows by winning 3-2 at Carrow Road, but that reverse was nothing compared to the 7-1 humiliation the Canaries suffered 12 months ago.

Paul Lambert's Colchester United were the victors last August, and within a few days the former Scotland international had swapped away dugout for home.

Lambert left Colchester for Norwich after the sacking of Bryan Gunn and the club have never looked back, storming to the League One title in May having started the campaign with such a spectacular low.

There were only two more home league defeats after that, one against in-form Southampton in the spring and another, by Carlisle, when the silverware had already been sealed.

Norwich have become used to winning on their own patch, and their impressive following will expect success when Swansea City arrive this weekend.

A first Championship victory of the campaign is already on the board thanks to Grant Holt's stoppage-time header at Scunthorpe United last Saturday.

Now Lambert will attempt to make Norwich's home ground a fortress once more.

Holt will be key to their chances, along with fellow striker Chris Martin.

The front two carried Norwich to promotion with more than 50 goals between them last season, while the gifted Wes Hoolahan added 14 from his attacking-midfield role.

Norwich have strengthened elsewhere following promotion, with Andrew Crofts and Andrew Surman bolstering midfield and Elliott Ward arriving to play in central defence.

One change Lambert would have preferred not to make was in goal, with Fraser Forster recalled by Newcastle after a superb season-long loan.

John Ruddy, the man signed from Everton to replace him, got a little irritable in a press conference the other day because of all the references to Forster.

Holt has had recent gripes with the local media over their coverage of the fallout from an alleged speeding offence, while Lambert was unhappy this week about an article suggesting he might want to manage in Germany, where he used to play.

Swansea's task is to ensure victory tomorrow does not cheer them all up.

Gareth Vincent

MARK Gower hopes he has staked his claim for a regular midfield spot as Swansea City search for Leon Britton's successor.

The converted wideman has been selected in the centre for both of Swansea's opening Championship games this season.

And, alongside Darren Pratley, he was particularly impressive against Preston last weekend, pulling the strings as Swansea secured a 4-0 win.

Now the former Southend player has settled in that role — and wants to stay there.

"I would like a run in the side in the middle and see where it takes me," said Gower. "Hopefully that will be the case.

"Since I came here I've been a wide player, but I'm into my 30s now and these little whippersnappers that are coming along, I can't keep up with them.

"We've got Scotty (Sinclair), Nathan (Dyer), Cedric (van der Gun), Cotts (David Cotterill) and Tommy Butler.

"That's five players in the wide positions that are more than capable of operating there."

Since Leon Britton's summer departure to Sheffield United, Swansea have been searching for a player to replace him.

Dutchman Kemy Agustien looks set to arrive at the Liberty after a successful summer trial, but Gower has also proved he is a contender to fill Britton's boots.

The 31-year-old was narrowly beaten to the man-of-the-match award by Nathan Dyer last weekend after performing well in a new-look 4-3-3 formation.

"It was nice to play in there. I think I complement Prats (Darren Pratley) quite well because he's got bags of energy and I like to get on the ball so it worked well.

"I came here as a wide player, but I'm no stranger to playing in the middle, and obviously with Leon leaving in the summer we need someone to fill that gap — hopefully it can be me."

Stephen Dobbie, Darren Pratley, Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill were on target against Preston as Swansea registered their first points under Brendan Rodgers.

"It was pleasing. I got plenty of touches and I enjoyed it," added Gower

"It was a good day, everyone performed really well, everyone did their job and worked hard and when the team's ticking over like that it's a joy to play in.

"I'm just happy to play wherever. If the manager wants me to play out wide, I'm happy to do that.

"And if he want's me to play in the middle, that's fine with me."

WHAT are the chances of Swansea City copying the neighbours and ending their search for a striker by signing Roque Santa Cruz?

"Pretty much zero," Garry Monk says through a grin.

And that is a generous estimate.

Remarkably, Cardiff City have somehow found a way to secure the signing of a £90,000-a-week centre- forward in Craig Bellamy.

It is an extraordinary transfer, partly because of Cardiff's financial woes and partly because Bellamy is too good for the Championship.

But while Monk admits envy is inevitable up and down the second tier, Swansea's experienced captain is happy for Huw Jenkins to continue doing things his way.

"We operate in a different way," Monk says.

"Of course that has got its negatives, but it has got its positives as well.

"We are not in a situation, as they are down the road, where we are worrying about creditors or winding-up orders or stuff like that.

"That must be a big worry for the club, the people and the city.

"Everyone would like to see a Bellamy coming to Swansea, but it's not going to happen because it's not the way we work.

"I would rather be stable and picking up a pay cheque every week than spending time looking over my shoulder."

Curtains have been twitching even more than usual in South Wales this week as a result of Bellamy's move from Manchester City.

But it is not only Swansea who are watching with interest – all of English football has been startled by the Bellamy deal.

And then there is Motherwell, the Scottish Premier League club who are apparently still waiting for £175,000 owed to them by Cardiff following the transfer of Paul Quinn last summer.

Whatever percentage of Bellamy's wages Cardiff are paying, it is a mystery to those on the outside how they have been able to finance the transfer given all the cash troubles they have faced in recent times.

"You do wonder how it has happened," Monk concedes.

"Their problems have been well documented, so it seems a bit funny that they can then go and sign this kind of player.

"But that's really for the official bodies to talk about, not me.

''I don't know enough of the ins and outs to judge."

If he can avoid the kind of injury problems which have hampered his career, Bellamy should have the tools to wreak havoc in the Championship.

"I think any team in the world would want him given that he was one of the best players in the Premier League last year," Monk adds.

"It's a real coup for Cardiff, and of course there's a little bit of envy when you see that calibre of player joining a club in our division.

"I'm sure he will have a big effect for them, but then one man doesn't make a team," he added.

When Brendan Rodgers spoke of how Scott Sinclair could be Swansea's Bellamy only a week ago, he was not expecting the Wales captain to turn up in the same division.

Sinclair's arrival might not have made News at Ten, as Bellamy's did, but Swansea's big-name recruit is a headline-maker in waiting.

And Monk, who enjoys a good relationship with his new manager, reckons there are more impressive recruits to come.

"We run a tight ship down here, but it's not as tight as everyone makes out," the 31-year-old says.

"Last week we spent what could be as much as £1.5 million on Scott Sinclair, and we have made other bids which, while they may not have been quite as much, have been in that region.

"Cardiff have probably got five, six, seven or eight players who they have spent that kind of money on and who are all on big, big wages.

"If we can bring in two or three of that sort of calibre to add to what we already have, that would be great."

Monk points out that big signings do not always require big outlays — there are players lower down the leagues who could step up, not to mention the cheaper "gems" to be found overseas.

"The gaffer and the board have stated their intent by signing Scott and, with one or two more like him, we will have a very high quality squad," he adds.

A striker is the top priority for Rodgers, while Swansea hope Dutchman Kemy Agustien will fill their vacancy in midfield.

And though he is a centre-back, Monk would also like to see another defender added.

"I would have to let down his tyres of course," the former Southampton man grins.

"Seriously, more competition is what we want. Scott has come in and I thought Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill both had their best games in a long time last Saturday.

"That is what competition does, and hopefully the manager can get the people he wants before the transfer window shuts."

For now Sinclair is Rodgers's sole Swansea signing, and the club's followers are relishing the chance to see him in action for the second time at Norwich City tomorrow.

Monk, who feels Swansea are still a couple of weeks away from peak fitness, reckons belief will be the key to upsetting the newly promoted Canaries on their own patch.

"Hull were there for the taking on the opening day to be honest," he says.

"We have spoken about mentality this week.

''We know we are good enough to go to these grounds and get results, but we have got to step up a notch.

"We can go away from home and play like we do at home, but only if we believe in ourselves."

BRENDAN RODGERS insists he is hours away from landing the striker he’s been chasing – with West Ham starlet Frank Nouble believed to be the target.

But the Swans boss revealed he is also close to pulling off a swoop for a goalscoring midfielder before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

Rodgers had set his sights on a new frontman from the moment he walked into the Liberty Stadium four weeks ago.

And the need for an attacking alternative to current leading man Stephen Dobbie has intensified following injuries to Gorka Pintado and Craig Beattie.

But Rodgers was hopeful yesterday of bringing an end to his search for an extra option up front with a loan move for England Under-19 ace Nouble believed to be on the cards.

The deal for Nouble would be something of a coup for Rodgers with the 18-year-old, who has made eight Premier League appearances for the Hammers, attracting serious interest from Portsmouth and Paulo Sousa’s Leicester.

But it is thought Rodgers is not ready to stop there, hinting of the possibility that another new striker is on the cards.

And he admitted he is hopeful of also drafting in an “exciting” midfielder that could help Swansea maintain the return to goalscoring form displayed in last Saturday’s 4-0 home rout of Preston.

Speaking before tomorrow’s trip to newly-promoted Norwich City, Rodgers said: “It’s on-going, but I hope over the next couple of days we can bring in a couple more players.

“One will be a striker and one another type for us who can add goals.

“ And then we’ll ramp it up in the next few weeks to get the type of striker we want.

“But we will look to bring someone in the next 24-48 hours who can play high up the field and then another exciting talent to get us goals from the midfield areas.”

Rodgers did not directly state Nouble was the player he was hoping of attracting to the Liberty before the weekend, but did admit later he is in discussions with the former Chelsea youngster about a switch, thought to be a season-long loan.

“Frank’s one that I worked with at Chelsea and he’s an excellent prospect for the future,” said Rodgers.

“He’s got a lot of potential. He’s 6ft 3in, he’s quick, he’s strong and I think he can score goals at this level so he’s one that we’re in discussion with and we’ll see where it goes.”

Rodgers has been linked with a plethora of strikers since replacing Sousa in South Wales, but has so far been frustrated in his attempts to land a new frontman.

It is thought he has been keen on making a move for Watford striker Danny Graham, only to see the Hornets bat away all enquiries while slapping an inflated transfer tag on the 25-year-old.

Bournemouth’s Brett Pitman was the latest name to be put in the frame for the Liberty, but, although he was being tracked by Swansea, he is not someone Rodgers has designs on with the Cherries star now looking likely to sign for Premier League new boys Blackpool.

With Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien also close to agreeing a deal, Rodgers will know he will have to move on some of his fringe players to satisfy both the 25-man senior squad rule and the club’s wage budget.

But it is clear Rodgers believes the new signings he is chasing will first give much-needed strength ready to try and mount a challenge this season.

After last year’s issues in front of goal, Rodgers has immediately set about correcting the fault – in terms of personnel and play.

The former Reading and Watford chief admits he has been pleased with the response from his players to his attacking aims for the side.

But, although he is keen to see his team take the same ambitious play to Carrow Road tomorrow, he insists Swansea have not become a kamikaze outifit.

“Against Preston, it was a very good attacking performance and we want to take the same attitude and ambition into every game,” said the 37-year-old.

“But it’s not a gamble – it’s my idea of the football I want to play and the players here give me the belief to do it.

“It’s offensive play that gives lots of possibilities to score, but with lots of discipline.

It’s not kamikaze.

“We have to work hard and with intensity to get the ball back and that allows us to have possession to go forward again.”

And, speaking specifically of taking the same stylish show on the road, Rodgers added: “The intention is to do what we’ve done at home, away from home – I’m not going to tell them to put the reins on things.

“The players here have a wonderful ability to keep the ball and I feel very confident going to any arena in this league with this group of players.

“There is a natural tendency to be a bit tentative away from home and there are times where you will be on the back foot, but they are the times where we will have to maker sure we are solid, compact and build the blocks so we can play our game.

“I’ve no fears or worries over that. Last week was fantastic but we have to have the same determination away.”

SWANSEA CITY captain Garry Monk has declared the entire Championship will have to raise their game following Cardiff City’s shock capture of Craig Bellamy.

Monk has warned every club, including his own Swans, that a new standard will be set after the Bluebirds pulled off the stunning transfer coup.

He accepts Bellamy’s arrival, next to Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd, Ross McCormack, Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke, gives Cardiff frightening firepower.

But Monk also insisted that, despite Bellamy’s presence making the Bluebirds one of the favourites to take the title, the topsy-turvy division will remain as unpredictable as always.

Monk said of Bellamy dropping out of the Premier League: “It’s a shock to say the least – but his presence will raise the bar in the whole division.

“Bellamy is a world-class player who has been at the very top level, with some of the best teams in the best league on the world ... and is good enough to still be there.

“It’s massive coup for the Championship as a whole – not just for Cardiff – to have a player of his stature amongst us.

“He is a player who can trouble the best defenders around, so everyone will have to be on top of their game when they come up against him.”

But Monk maintained there will not be any easy pickings for the star-studded Bluebirds in a league that is still renowned for its openness.

“Cardiff obviously have players who can score goals and Bellamy brings blistering pace into their team,” said the 31-year-old.

“He is someone who could have a really great time in this division because you would expect him to score goals.

“But the nature of this league is that it’s tough for any team and that won’t change.

“We see the surprises every single week and when it comes to promotion no-one will run away with it and it will be as open as always.

“A lot of sides will be aiming to do well and that’s the challenge for each and every one of us.”

And Monk claims Swansea have every right to consider themselves among the promotion hopefuls too, given their encouraging start under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

While Bellamy will be marking his homecoming in Cardiff’s home clash with Doncaster, Swansea will be looking to follow up their 4-0 blitzing of Preston when they travel to newly-promoted Norwich.

“We need to carry that on, especially away from home. We need to step up a level on the road to ensure we can be there or thereabouts,” said Monk.

“And, if we get in one or two new signings, then we have as good a chance as anyone to really compete.”

Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers has targeted another Chelsea product, Frank Nouble, amid injury worries up front.

The ex-Chelsea Youth team and reserves boss hopes to sign the 18-year-old on loan from West Ham United to join fellow ex-Blue Scott Sinclair.

The Swans have only two fit strikers for Saturday's trip to Norwich - Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi.

"Frank's one that I worked with at Chelsea and he's an excellent prospect for the future," said Rodgers.

"He's got a lot of potential. He's 6ft 3in, he's quick, he's strong and I think he can score goals at this level so he's one that we're in discussion with and we'll see where it goes."

Rodgers can call on Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi to face Norwich and is without Gorka Pintado for up to three months following the player's shoulder surgery.
Craig Beattie (ankle) is also injured, but winger Nathan Dyer could return after resting a leg injury.

Midfielder Sinclair, 21, joined the Swans on a three-year deal earlier this month.
Nouble joined the Hammers from Chelsea last summer and has since had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Swindon Town.

PAULO Sousa is looking to beat Swansea City to the signing of West Ham's Frank Nouble.

The former Swansea boss has targeted the 18-year-old Hammers striker as he aims to bolster his options going forward.

Sousa already has the likes of Steve Howard, Matty Fryatt, DJ Campbell and Paul Gallagher to call upon, but is now hopeful of a loan switch for Nouble.

Swansea are interested in the teenager, while Championship rivals Portsmouth are also keen to take him to Fratton Park.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell insists he is yet to receive a firm bid for star striker Brett Pitman.

The 22-year-old, who scored a hat-trick in Saturday's 5-1 thrashing of Peterborough, has been linked with Swansea, Blackpool and Ipswich.

SWANSEA City face a race against time to sign Kemy Agustien before the transfer window closes after it emerged that he is still under contract.

The Dutch midfielder is expected to join Swansea after chairman Huw Jenkins revealed "everything is agreed" regarding his move to the Liberty.

But Agustien is understood to be under contract at Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar, with at least one year left to run.

However, with the transfer window closing on August 31, Swansea need to get the deal rubber-stamped or face missing out on the signature of the former Holland Under-21s star.

Swansea, though, are not expected to pay for his services as Agustien has an agreement in place with the Dutch club to let him move on with no fee involved.

Agustien, who turns 24 tomorrow, is currently in his homeland recovering from damaged knee ligaments suffered in the friendly defeat by ADO Den Haag.

But Jenkins admits he is hopeful of securing the midfielder's services before time runs out.

"From what we understand, Kemy is still under contract so that means we need to get a deal done before the window closes," said the Swansea chairman.

"We need to wait until we get him over to Swansea so we can assess the situation, but we are hopeful that we will be able to get the deal done.

"As far as we are concerned, everything is agreed and we are waiting for him to get himself fit and ready to come back into training with us."

Meanwhile, Swansea have not had any further contact with Blackpool over the future of defender Angel Rangel.

Ian Holloway's side confirmed their interest for the Spanish right-back with an official bid, but that was rejected by Swansea.

Jenkins insisted he wasn't sure whether Blackpool, who yesterday signed Israeli centre-back Dekel Keinan, would return with an improved offer before the window closes.

"Nothing has changed there really," said Jenkins. "We have had no more contact from Blackpool.

"I can't say anything for definite because there are two weeks left of the transfer window and you don't know what might happen."

THE man responsible for ensuring Fulham were fighting fit for their Europa League final has joined Swansea City.

Ryland Morgans has left his post at the Premier League club in order to take up the post of head of sports science at the Liberty Stadium.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed major success in his career, having been part of the Fulham set-up during last season's phenomenal European campaign, along with enjoying promotion to the Championship with Notting- ham Forest two years ago.

Morgans, who was born in Swansea, has also worked with the FAW and Northampton.

The former Olchfa pupil is now tasked with helping improve the strength and conditioning aspects of Brendan Rodgers's squad.

"It was a tough decision to leave Fulham,'' said Morgans.

"But the chance to head up my own department and ply my trade at my hometown club was an opportunity too good to miss.''

Morgans, who is a former Leicester City apprentice and also played in the Welsh Premier League, was at the Liberty last Saturday prior to agreeing his switch to Swansea. And he was hugely impressed with the performance as Swansea brushed Preston aside in a 4-0 victory.

"I obviously watched the Swans when I was working for Nottingham Forest," said Morgans.

"But to work in close quarters to the team and backroom staff last Saturday was fascinating.

"It was a fantastic performance, but I know I can help the players step up their level of fitness and conditioning and assist in developing the club on to bigger and better things.

"I'm fortunate and impressed that the manager and the backroom staff are all open and willing to embrace sports science, which is such an important part of the modern game.''

Morgans has his Uefa A Licence in coaching and is studying towards a PhD in Science in Football.

He will take control of monitoring and testing players' fitness, strength and conditioning; recovery and injury prevention strategy; nutrition; functional rehabilitation of injured players and psychological monitoring.

Chris Barney

With all the attention focused on Cardiff over the past few days, we thought we'd have a double round up of Championship news for you today - Swansea are after a striker, Millwall have a midfielder (until January), while Ipswich's summer clearout continues. Oh, and we manage to squeeze one mention of Craig Bellamy in there...

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed his club are hoping to lure Middlesbrough striker Leroy Lita to south Wales. His comments come on the same day that current Swansea forward Gorka Pintado has been ruled out for three months after undergoing a shoulder operation.

Swansea City spent £335,241 on agents last season, according to the Football League's agents fees report.

It marks a huge rise on the £70,000 they spent the year before which was their first season in the Championship.

Cardiff City spent £313,000, which was a drop of almost £220,000 on the previous year.

A total of £10,131,314 was spent on agents by Championship clubs in 205 out of 778 transfers made - an increase of almost £1m, but with 449 fewer deals.

Middlesbrough spent the most on agents with £1,464,200, while Scunthorpe spent the least, just £33,300.

SWANSEA City reserves kicked off their new campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Torquay yesterday.

Alan Curtis's side, which included Jazz Richards, Neil Taylor, Shaun MacDonald and Scott Donnelly, were level after 45 minutes at Plainmoor.

But second-half goals from Saul Halpin, Lathanial Rowe-Turner and Ashley Yeoman helped the hosts to victory.

Next up for the second string is a match against Swindon at The Gnoll on Tuesday, September 7.

GORKA Pintado has suffered a fresh blow after it emerged that it could take three months to recover from a shoulder problem.

The Spanish striker has had surgery on the injury suffered in Swansea City's opening-day defeat at Hull.

And Pintado has now been told that it could take three months of rehabilitation before he is okay to return to action.

The 32-year-old frontman was initially ruled out for around eight weeks.

His problem, coupled with the continuing absence of Craig Beattie, has left Swansea short of attacking options, with Brendan Rodgers hungry to add a new frontman before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

TICKETS for Swansea City's trip to Leeds on September 11 go on sale tomorrow.

Swansea have been given an initial allocation of 1,710, with tickets priced £24 for adults, £17 for over-60s and £12 for under-16s.

Disabled tickets and restricted view tickets — which are a little cheaper — are also available.

Tickets for the Carling Cup second-round tie at Tranmere next Tuesday went on sale today, priced £15.50 for adults, £9.50 for ages 17 to 22 and over-60s, and £6 for under-16s.

Official travel club bookings should be made as soon as possible for Tranmere, plus the trip to Norwich this weekend.

Tickets for Scunthorpe's visit on September 18 are also on sale from today.

HUW Jenkins has admitted Leroy Lita is on Swansea City's wanted list as Brendan Rodgers continues his search for a striker.

Swansea are thought to be looking into the possibility of taking Lita on a six-month loan from Middlesbrough, as the Evening Post revealed yesterday.

Jenkins says Swansea, who are also understood to be monitoring West Ham's Frank Nouble, are working hard to recruit a new centre-forward before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

But he insists the club are yet to make any approach to Boro over their former England Under-21 international.

"Leroy Lita is a player Brendan likes," the Swansea chairman said.

"He has done well in the Championship to be fair to him and we are well aware that we need to bring someone in.

"We haven't hidden from that fact.

"Brendan wants to strengthen his attacking options and we are trying our best to make that happen."

As things stand, Swansea's only fit strikers are Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi.

Craig Beattie was ruled out for six weeks with a calf problem suffered on the pre-season tour of Holland at the end of last month, while Gorka Pintado could be sidelined for three months by a shoulder problem.

Rodgers was keen to strengthen even before the injuries struck, and Lita looks to be his top target at present after moves for Ipswich frontman Tamas Priskin and Watford's Danny Graham came to nothing.

Ex-Reading and Bristol City star Lita may be keen for a change after falling down the pecking order at the Riverside.

But Boro boss Gordon Strachan could be reluctant to let him leave because he does not have a wealth of attacking options.

It may be that Nouble, who would also be a loan target, proves an easier man to snare.

The promising 18-year-old, who worked with Rodgers during his Chelsea days, may struggle for regular football at West Ham.

CRAIG Bellamy has claimed he would love to see Swansea City promoted this season if Cardiff do not make it to the Premier League.

The Wales captain yesterday completed one of the most unlikely transfer deals in recent memory by joining Cardiff on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Bellamy, 31, who hails from Cardiff, is relishing the prospect of featuring in a first Welsh derby in early November.

But he insists he is not anti-Swans.

"If Cardiff City do not make the Premier League, I would love Swansea to make it," he said.

"We are such a small nation and I am not one who buys into the rivalry.

"We need everyone pulling together on this side of the Bridge.

"I understand the rivalry — I have been at games and seen it.

"I have played in some of the greatest derbies in world football and I am looking forward to being part of this one."

Bellamy's signing has sent shock waves across football, partly because a player with such talent is dropping into the Championship and partly because Cardiff have found a way to fund the deal.

The Bluebirds have been ravaged by financial problems and spent much of the close season under a transfer embargo.

Asked about the signing of Bellamy last night, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins responded: "All I would say is I'm glad I haven't got to pay him."

Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, meantime, is considering issuing Cardiff with a winding-up order in the wake of the Bellamy transfer.

Motherwell are still owed £175,000 by Cardiff as part of a transfer deal that brought defender Paul Quinn to Wales last year.

"We have given Cardiff every chance to do the right thing," said Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster.

"The board now believes that Cardiff's position is untenable given their activity in the transfer market, acquiring Jason Koumas, Tom Heaton, Danny Drinkwater, Seyi Olofinjana, Martin John and now Manchester City's Craig Bellamy.

"Given all these circumstances and with legal and moral weight behind us, Motherwell FC have no option but to immediately pursue all legal routes to ensure this significant sum is paid to us as quickly as possible.

"These may include issuing a winding up order, arresting assets or physically sending bailiffs to their ground on match day to take possession of cash."

SCOTT Sinclair has promised Swansea City fans he will only get better after setting sights on the Championship play- offs.

The former Chelsea winger made an impressive debut during last weekend's 4-0 demolition of Preston at the Liberty Stadium.

His Swansea bow came just five days after the 21-year-old had signed a three-year deal with the club, and Sinclair believes that as he settles, his performances will improve.

"It was good to get the first game under my belt and hopefully I can progress from that," he said.

"I'm not at my best right now because last Saturday was my first game and it's not long since I've come in.

Lively

"Hopefully I can keep kicking on, and I'm sure I will get better and better with each game."

Sinclair put in a lively first Swansea showing against the Lilywhites, demonstrating his trademark pace and direct running from wide on the left.

He nearly marked his first appearance with a goal after having an effort ruled out for offside.

"I was disappointed about that because it would have been nice to score my first goal on my debut," he said.

"But it doesn't really matter who scores the goals as long as we keep winning every week — that's the main thing.

"I thought it was a great performance. The boys played exceptionally as you can see with the result. We scored four goals and I thought collectively it was a great game."

Swansea's record signing received a warm welcome from the home fans after completing a deal that could eventually be worth more than £1 million.

Sinclair admitted he enjoyed that reception, and he is now aiming to repay supporters by helping Brendan Rodgers's side to a top-six finish.

"The fans were exceptional — they are a great set of fans and now I'm just looking forward to every home game," he added.

"All the boys here are wicked, they're a great set of lads.

"The result against Preston says we're a great side, we're a great passing team. If we can play like that every week, we'll be well up that table very quickly.

"We've got the boys in the team, the quality to get into the play-offs.

"I saw a few games last season on TV so I knew Swansea were a great passing side, now I'm just happy to be part of it."

SWANSEA CITY have turned their attention to Middlesbrough forward Leroy Lita as their search for a striker continues.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said he hopes to bring in at least one forward before the transfer window closes to help ease the burden on his front players, despite their excellent 4-0 thrashing of Preston at the weekend.

Injuries to Gorka Pintado and Craig Beattie has left Rodgers with just two fit strikers, Shefki Kuqi and Stephen Dobbie, going into the opening weeks of the new Championship season.

Thirty-two-year-old Pintado suffered ligament and cartilage damage in the Championship opener at Hull City and could be missing until November.

“The operation to stabilise the shoulder was a success,” confirmed Swans physio Kate Rees. “It’s early days, but the rehabilitation process is likely to take up to 12 weeks.”

Middlesbrough striker Lita, 25, is now believed to be on Rodgers’ shortlist as a replacement, with the club likely to want a six-month loan deal to bring the forward to South Wales.

Lita has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Middlesbrough, but it is unclear whether they would be willing to loan him out to a rival Championship club.

He impressed in the Carling Cup tie against Chesterfield last week when he played 90 minutes and also looked sharp coming on as a substitute against Leicester City.

But he is still behind ex-Rangers goalscorer Kris Boyd and former Celtic man Scott MacDonald, who both arrived at the Riverside in big-money deals.

Lita’s style makes him a natural replacement for the lively MacDonald, so Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachen could want to hold on to the former Reading man, unless a replacement can be found.

Strachen signed Lita, who once cost the Royals £5m, on a free transfer last season after loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Norwich from his parent club Reading.

He’s scored eight goals in 23 starts for Boro, his last coming in the 1-1 draw with Watford in March.

Although he started his career at Chelsea, Lita had left the club before Swansea City boss Rodgers had arrived at Stamford Bridge and has never worked with the Northern Irishman.

Meanwhile Swansea are also believed to be on the trail of highly-rated West Ham youngster Frank Nouble.

The 18-year-old striker also started his career with Chelsea, but left last year to sign a five-year deal with London rivals West Ham.

He is highly regarded at Upton Park and would only move to the Swans on loan, having previously spent time on loan at West Brom and Swindon.

According to Sky Sports, relegated Portsmouth and Paulo Sousa’s Leicester are also chasing the capture of 6ft 2in Nouble, who started three games for the Hammers in the Premier League last season.

West Ham currently have six senior strikers on their books so Nouble could find his first-team opportunities limited.

Swansea City striker Gorka Pintado has undergone a shoulder operation that is set to sideline him for up to three months.

The Spaniard, 32, suffered the damage in the opening game of the season, a 2-0 defeat at Hull City.

"The operation to stabilise the shoulder was a success," Swans physio Kate Rees told the club website.

"It's only early days, but the rehabilitation process is likely to take up to 12 weeks."

Blackpool are trying to rush through a deal for Swansea right-back Angel Rangel.

They are now set to pay £750,000 for Rangel, whose agent has come over from Spain to sort out terms.

Rangel has made no secret of his wish to move to the Premier League this summer.

Swans boss not looking for ace to leave

Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers expects in-demand midfielder Darren Pratley to stay with the club this season.

Despite ongoing suggestions that rivals Nottingham Forest are keen on the 25-year-old, Rodgers will not let him leave on the cheap.

Rodgers is unfazed by the fact that Pratley is out of contract at the end of the season, insisting he will only leave for a Premier League club before the window closes.

The former Reading and Watford manager is also happy with Pratley's mindset and is more than happy selecting him for first-team duty if required.

Wonderful professional
"If Darren is going to leave, it has to be for a Premier League club," he told the South Wales Evening Post.

"I have a lot time for him as a player and I have pushed really hard for him to sign a new deal since I came in.

"The board have worked very hard to offer the best possible deal, and if that's not enough than that's where we are at.

"But will it affect me picking Darren? No.

"Maybe there are some things in the back of his mind, but he is a wonderful professional and he loves this club.

"I expect he will be here for the rest of the season and I want my best players playing."

SWANSEA City are poised to launch a loan bid for Middlesbrough's Leroy Lita as Brendan Rodgers looks to add further firepower to his squad.

And the Swansea boss is also understood to have earmarked West Ham frontman Frank Nouble as a potential recruit.

Rodgers is determined to add another striker to his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, particularly with Craig Beattie and Gorka Pintado both on the injured list.

And Lita, who could join on a six-month loan, is now the top target after moves for Watford's Danny Graham and Tamas Priskin, of Ipswich, came to nothing.

Lita is on the fringe of the first-team picture at Boro — he played in the Carling Cup and came off the bench at Leicester last weekend — but he has slipped down the pecking order following the summer signing of Kris Boyd from Rangers.

Boyd and ex-Celtic man Scott McDonald are currently the first-choice front two at the Riverside.

Free agent

Both were brought to the North East by Gordon Strachan, while Lita was signed as a free agent last summer by previous boss Gareth Southgate.

The former Reading man — who cost the Royals £1 million five years ago — has impressed when given the chance to shine at Boro, yet all too often he has been used in a back-up role.

It is thought Lita may be keen for a change — but the 25-year-old's wages could be a stumbling block.

And Swansea may also have to rely on Boro finding a replacement, as the ex-England Under-21 international is one of only four senior centre-forwards at the club.

A former Chelsea youngster, Lita left just as Rodgers was arriving at Stamford Bridge. And the Congo-born speedster missed out on the chance to work with Rodgers once again last year, heading out of the Madejski just before the Northern Irishman arrived.

Nouble, a 6ft 2in powerhouse with good mobility and pace, would be a cheaper option.

The 18-year-old worked with Rodgers at Chelsea, where he spent five years as a youngster before joining West Ham for an undisclosed fee last year.

Nouble has already made ten first-team appearances for the Hammers, while he also played for West Brom and Swindon during loan spells last season.

Still to score in senior club football, the Londoner was on target for England during their impressive Uefa European Under-19 Championship campaign this summer.

Rodgers had earlier targeted Priskin and Graham, two players he knows from his time in charge at Watford.

But it is thought Ipswich were unwilling to do a deal on Priskin, while the asking price for Graham looks like putting him out of Swansea's reach.

Arrivals

"We have a list of names and there will certainly be one or two arrivals before the window closes," Rodgers said over the weekend.

"We want someone with mobility, quality, hunger and ambition."

Rodgers last week made Scott Sinclair his first Swansea signing, and he also expects to tie up a deal for Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien.

And he has handed a trial to another forward, Dundee United's 25-year-old Spaniard Fran Sandaza.

The former Valencia player, who suffered long-term injury problems last season, will train with Swansea this week.

Another striker whose name has been mentioned, Hull's Caleb Folan, is now being linked with Wolves.

IT took Swansea City until the last weekend in September to chalk up their fourth league goal of last season.

Last Saturday they achieved the feat in 33 thrilling minutes.

All the talk was of the same old story being told at Hull on the opening day, when Swansea had more possession but the Tigers packed the greater punch.

As so often last term, Swansea were accused of being pretty but not effective.

Brendan Rodgers's tone afterwards was telling, the new Swansea manager pointing out that he is a coach rather than a magician when asked about how his team would find a route to goal.

The suggestion was that he may struggle to inspire players who have regularly failed to find the target in the past.

Target

Rodgers began his attempt to increase Swansea's potency by signing Scott Sinclair last week.

But while the former Chelsea man showed some touches of his undoubted class on debut last weekend, it was four of his new team-mates who found the target.

Stephen Dobbie got the ball rolling, the ex-Queen of the South striker supplying the sort of classy finish which originally attracted Roberto Martinez.

Dobbie looks a goalscorer and, if he continues in that vein, the decision to send him out on loan to Blackpool last season will look ever more puzzling.

Darren Pratley swept home his second of the season, then Nathan Dyer got halfway towards his tally for the whole of last season by popping up in the penalty area.

And David Cotterill completed the rout from the penalty spot, the former Sheffield United man deservedly getting off the mark having rattled the woodwork on two occasions already this season.

Rodgers admitted to feeling pleasantly surprised about how well Cotterill adapted to a new role against Preston, when he was asked to play behind the striker so Sinclair could slot in on the left.

After last season's struggles in the final third, the pleasant surprise for Swansea's fans was how their team tore into Preston.

"How we win is important to me," Rodgers says.

And there lies the contrast with his predecessor, whose sole aim was victory.

Paulo Sousa deserves to be lauded for the results he got, but Swansea were hardly the great entertainers in the Championship last season.

This year things might just be different, with Rodgers happy to take what he calls calculated risks in the search for results.

What are the chances of his team matching last season's extraordinary tally of 24 league clean sheets?

You would have say to slim.

But what about surpassing the meagre total of 40 league goals which Swansea managed to score in 2009-10?

That looks a certainty.

"The way I coach is for teams to play good football and to attack," Rodgers adds.

"It's more difficult to coach a team to play good football and win than it is to coach a team to win.

"But that's the way I work and, thankfully, the players have got a good idea already."

Rodgers hopes to add more goals to his squad this week, with Leroy Lita the latest contender to fill Swansea's vacancy for a striker.

There have been moves for Tamas Priskin and Danny Graham, while Rodgers is thought to have spoken to Hull's Caleb Folan.

But Lita is the man who looks the most likely right now to join a squad which would welcome another goalscorer.

Four strikes against Preston made this season's start rather different to last, when Swansea needed nine league games to score that many goals.

But there is still room for improvement.

"We want someone with the natural instinct to score goals," Rodgers says.

Swansea's followers look forward to watching the new man joining in the fun.

ALAN TATE has admitted Swansea City will be more exposed at the back this season after the side underlined their attacking intent at the weekend.

But the versatile defender insisted they have the players to cope with it.

The Swans blew away Preston in Saturday’s Liberty Stadium opener, coming good on the attacking promises made by new manager Brendan Rodgers.

It was a performance hailed by the new man and many observers who were left purring over the slick forward play.

But the game did see opportunities open up for Preston, something long-serving defender Tate admits is almost inevitable.

“As always, the plan is to score goals and keep clean sheets,” said 27-year-old Tate.

“But I think it’s clear we have changed the mentality to be a more attack-minded and, as a result, we will concede more goals, or at least concede more opportunities for other sides.

“It’s about balance and it’s not about being gung-ho but we are pushing forward a bit more and it will leave us exposed at times.

“But the fans weren’t happy with the negative football at times last year and hopefully they can see we are trying to redress that and get behind us.

“We are going to concede more chances so it’s about making sure we get people in the right positions at the other end when we do break to punish teams.

“And we know we have players at the back who have been together for a long time and know each others’ games so we can stay strong when the time comes.”

With Tate, skipper Garry Monk, Wales international Ashley Williams and highly-rated Angel Rangel to call upon, Swansea racked up a record number of clean sheets last season – but it came at a cost with the team failing to register even a goal a game, a statistic that ultimately killed play-off hopes.

And Tate admitted there is a need for Swansea to open up this term.

“We are going to be more open, especially at home,” he said.

“Away might be a bit different, but at home it’s something we have to do because not many teams come to the Liberty looking to be adventurous.

“They come looking for the point and leave us to break them down, something we’re trying to make sure we do.”

After an opening day defeat at Hull, Swansea’s strength on the road will be tested on Saturday by Championship new boys Norwich City.

And boss Rodgers will hope to have made some developments in his search for a new striker before the trip to Carrow Road, injuries to Gorka Pintado and Craig Beattie leaving him with two fit front men.

With that in mind, Rodgers has drafted in former Valencia striker Fransisco Sandanza for a Liberty Stadium trial.

The 26-year-old, who has 12 months left to run on a three-year-deal at Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, is looking to earn a Swans stay after an injury-hit time in the SPL.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers will this week run the rule over Dundee United striker Francisco Sandaza.

The Spaniard will train with the npower Championship club as Rodgers looks to boost his options in the final third with forwards Craig Beattie and Gorka Pintado in the treatment room.

Sandaza signed for Dundee United from Valencia, where he spent a total of six years, back in July 2008 on a three-year deal.

However, injury problems and a resulting struggle with fitness have restricted the 26-year-old's first-team opportunities at Tannadice.

Sandaza, who has a year remaining on his contract, has made a total of 43 appearances for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League side, scoring 11 goals.

Swansea City have taken Dundee United's Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza on a week's trial.

Boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring in a new striker as Craig Beattie and Gorka Pintado are both injured, leaving just Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi.

Sandaza, 26, is in the last year of his contract, but suffered last season with hernia problems.

He has scored 11 goals in 38 league appearances since joining United from Valencia in July 2008.

But Sandaza spent most of his six years with the La Liga side playing for the reserve team Valencia Mestalla, and scored 23 goals in his last season as they were promoted to the Segunda Division.

STEPHEN Dobbie is aiming to break the 15-goal barrier after getting off the mark against Preston on Saturday.

The Swansea City striker got Saturday's scoring spree underway when he turned neatly in the box before firing low into the bottom corner.

And the former Queen of the South man believes he can threaten the Championship's top scorers' chart this term after enduring a difficult first season at the Liberty under Paulo Sousa.

"Any striker will tell you, if you get more than 15 you're doing pretty well and with the players around me hopefully I can get many more," said the 27-year-old.

"It makes a difference with the manager, whether he fancies you or not, and I've loved it under the new gaffer."

Brendan Rodgers started with an adventurous 4-3-3 formation against the Lilywhites as Swansea ditched the defensive approach of last season.

New record signing Scott Sinclair began on the left wing, with David Cotterill operating just behind Dobbie — and the chances soon arrived.

"That's what you get when you've got the likes of Nathan Dyer, Sinclair, Cotterill and Pratley playing in behind you," said Dobbie. "You're going to get chances so it's up to me to try to take them.

"When we go away from home we play with a sitter (in midfield), but on Saturday the gaffer tried Cotterill in behind me and it worked fantastically.

"David is skilful enough to thread little balls through and when you've got wingers like ours, they're a joy to play with."

After failing to make an impression on Sousa, Dobbie left for Blackpool in the last campaign and was instrumental in helping them into the final Championship play-off place ahead of Swansea.

"I'm glad to be back and it's always good to get your first goal of the season early on because if it drags on for four or five games it plays on your mind," he said.

"I can kick on against Norwich next week and I know the boys will be in high spirits.

"I think our possession in the game was more like last year, but then we just couldn't get the goals.

"We scored 40 all last year — so with four on Saturday we're nearly there already.

"I'm sure we'll beat that total this year."

Meanwhile, Swansea have been linked with a move for Watford striker Danny Graham. Rodgers has made no secret that he wants to add another striker to a squad that is currently without Craig Beattie and Shefki Kuqi.

Watford are unlikely to want to sell one of their biggest assets, but that may not put Rodgers off. Swansea have also been linked with Watford team-mate Tamas Priskin and Hull's Caleb Folan.

BRENDAN Rodgers walked into Swansea City with a smile on his face and already he has the club grinning with him.

These are early days in the Championship season, and it is too soon to draw conclusions about what the campaign will bring.

But what it is apparent already is that it should be a more enjoyable ride than the play-off near miss of 2009-10.

"Football is meant to be fun," said Nathan Dyer, man of the match against Preston North End on Saturday as Swansea's shackles came off.

"You shouldn't be going into games feeling scared or under pressure, and the gaffer has made it fun for us.

"He has taken the pressure off and told us to play with freedom. He wants us to be happy and I think you've seen the result of that."

The Preston contingent aside, the only long faces at the Liberty this weekend belonged to police horses.

Starved of goals last season, the natives lapped up Rodgers's bold approach and the handsome rewards it brought.

Preston, it must be said, were not too clever, and Darren Ferguson looks right to forecast a long, hard season for the Lilywhites.

How will Swansea's campaign go? It looks like finding out will be fun.

Rodgers's team marked his first home league fixture as Swansea boss with the club's most handsome victory since Roberto Martinez said his goodbyes.

After an even opening, the hosts nudged ahead. And then they focused on increasing their advantage.

Even when they were in front, Swansea went forward in packs and their ambition was rewarded with four goals. It might easily have been more.

They fired a blank at Hull on the opening day, but already Swansea have managed a tenth of the goals they netted throughout last season in the league, when the tally of 40 was the lowest in the second tier.

Paulo Sousa's style was to defend first and go forward later, and always to protect what he had.

Sousa wanted Swansea to choke the life out of opponents, whereas Rodgers wants his team to beat others out of sight.

If all goes to plan — as it did here — clean sheets become less significant and so the pressure on Dyer and Co is eased.

"We went 1-0 up and it wasn't like before where we were just trying to keep the lead," the winger added.

"We were pushing and pushing for more and more. That's what the gaffer wants — he wants us to stay high up the pitch and attack our men.

"He wants us to use our energy to attack rather than dropping back and defending, and for wingers and strikers that's great."

Dyer only scored twice throughout last season, but he is up and running this term with only two games played.

The former Southampton man got his goal by getting into the penalty area, something he did not do often enough last year because of his defensive responsibilities.

Dyer tapped in at the back post, latching on to Stephen Dobbie's cross-shot to make it 3-0 at half-time.

By then Dobbie — the striker who was deemed surplus to requirements last spring — had showed the finishing ability that Swansea signed him for, the Scot making a yard and drilling home from the edge of the box.

Darren Pratley tapped in the second goal, last season's leading scorer chalking up his second of this campaign after Garry Monk and Ashley Williams had redirected David Cotterill's corner.

Cotterill completed the scoring, the Wales man stroking home from the penalty spot after Keith Treacy upended Dyer.

"It was a wonderful performance," said Rodgers, that smile on display again.

"A lot of the ideas we have worked on are starting to show. The players want to work hard — as a team we pressed really well — and that's great for a manager."

The new man's team selection was bold, with Cotterill playing behind Dobbie and Scott Sinclair on the left flank following his big-money move from Chelsea.

Everywhere you looked there were tricky wingers, with Mark Gower in central midfield alongside Pratley, another who likes to get forward.

Could such a forward-thinking line-up get Swansea through a season, even when away from home?

Rodgers thinks so.

"Our ambition is to keep playing this way," he added.

"The supporters want to see good football and they want to see goals.

"They got both here. They will have a nice drink in the pub and their food will taste nicer — and so will mine.

"We have set the standard with a fantastic performance and my ambition is to carry on like that.

"I want my teams to control games and dominate games and I believe we can do that whether we are playing at home or away.

"I have confidence in these players because they show me every day that they can accept responsibility. Sometimes it may cost us, but I think we are better off taking a risk. If there's no risk, there's no reward."

Rodgers's theory is that the attacking approach will bring Swansea more gains than losses.

Yes they may pay the price now and again, but more often, he believes, it will bring extra points.

If Swansea can keep creating opportunities as they did against Preston, he will certainly be proved right.

They demolished hapless visitors, bringing happiness on an afternoon which began in sombre mood.

The pre-match tribute to Besian Idrizaj was nicely done, and Rodgers based his teamtalk around the Swansea youngster whose death in May stunned his team-mates.

"The motivation is always there to get three points, but here it was even greater because there is young guy who is watching in the sky when he should be here," he said. "The players really wanted to perform for him and the win is obviously dedicated to him and his memory."

Swansea's fans held up cards during the minute's silence to reveal an image of shirt number 40, which Idrizaj wore during his all too brief stint in Wales.

After that, the 4-0 scoreline seemed just right.

THE goals are back, the smiles are back and, as Brendan Rodgers’ feelgood factor continued to grow with a 4-0 thumping of Preston, it seems the Swansea way is back at the Liberty Stadium.

There isn’t a proven scientific link between players enjoying themselves and a team scoring goals for fun but, with this performance providing plenty of evidence in its favour, commonsense tells you the more someone enjoys their job, the better they are at it.

Having promised from the start that his attacking players would have a licence to thrill, it’s clearly a link new Swansea City boss Rodgers believes in.

With pretty much the same squad at his disposal as predecessor Paulo Sousa had, the Northern Irishman’s early priority has been getting his troops to start enjoying their football again.

No one argues with Sousa’s belief in building results on the foundation of a solid defence. But, as Rodgers clearly realises, that should primarily be the back four’s concern, not the entire team’s.

For Swansea’s wingers, strikers and more advanced midfielders it has been made clear that attacking is once again their priority.

And, as a sorry-looking Preston found out, that should provide every Championship defence with a cause for concern.

The four goals, netted by Stephen Dobbie, Darren Pratley, Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill, were impressive enough. But the bigger bonus was the sight of a Swans team that looked dangerous whenever they got the ball.

The cutting edge was back for the men in white and with it came a buzz around the Liberty that was missing on far too many occasions last season.

And, as man-of-the-match Dyer explained, when you play positively the results will follow.

“We are all enjoying ourselves and that’s how it should be,” he said. “Football is meant to be fun.

“It shouldn’t be about going into games scared and under pressure. It should just be fun. The gaffer has made it so that there isn’t any pressure and we can just go out and enjoy ourselves, be happy and play with freedom. You saw the results against Preston.

“Once we went 1-0 up we knew it wasn’t like before where we would just try to protect the lead. We were pushing for more and more.

“Even at the end, we were trying to get as many goals as we could. That’s a good sign and hopefully there is more to come.

“That’s as good as our attacking play has been in a long time. It’s definitely good to be talking about scoring four goals than struggling just to get one.”

The interesting thing about Swansea’s rediscovery of a cutting edge was looking at which players contributed the most towards it. And, in each case, you have to applaud Rodgers.

First up is striker Stephen Dobbie, the man Sousa controversially farmed out on loan to Blackpool in January. The Scotsman is looking to prove his worth at Swansea and, having been given a chance by the new manager, that’s exactly what he is doing.

As early as the fifth minute Dobbie gave a glimpse of his talent, expertly turning his defender before firing in a low shot that was well-saved by Andy Lonergan. He is a natural goal scorer whose first instinct is always to get his shot off.

And, as he capitalised on Danny Mayor’s error to fire the Swans in front with a precise finish after 23 minutes, there was little doubt he knows how to find the net.

It wasn’t just Dobbie’s goal, though, it was the way he linked up with his wingers and Cotterill, who was moved into a more central role. And, after Pratley added a second from close range in the 40th minute following some shambolic Preston defending, the third goal two minutes later was the product of an attacking unit that is starting to gel.

As Swansea broke quickly, Cotterill’s intelligent pass found Dobbie in space on the edge of the box. He selflessly volleyed the ball across the goal and, showing there can be an end product to Swansea’s counter-attacks, Dyer slid in at the back post to put the result beyond doubt.

The fourth goal saw the Swans unsung hero combine with their man-of-the-match. Neither of them scored it, though.

Mark Gower, producing one of his best performances for the club in the holding midfield role (another Rodgers masterstroke), sprayed the ball effortlessly out to Dyer on the right.

The winger comfortably beat Keith Treacy on his way into the box and, when the Irishman brought him down, Cotterill scored the goal his performance deserved from the penalty spot.

With so many attacking players impressing, it could almost be easy to forget the lively debut made by record signing Scott Sinclair.

Slotting in seamlessly on the left, the former Chelsea man offered early signs that he will be a great addition to the Swans squad, terrorising the Preston defence with his pace and looking to make something happen whenever he got the ball.

In short, going forwards Rodgers men were brilliant. And, as Dyer pointed out, that has a lot to do with the jobs their new manager is asking them to do.

“The gaffer has come in and put his own ideas forwards,” he said. “He wants the wingers to stay up as high as possible and to attack their man.

“It means we have more energy to attack instead of always dropping back to defend. That’s great for the wingers because it’s what we love doing.

“It’s what the strikers love as well. We just want to score as many goals as we can.”

Insisting the team performance deserved more credit than his own, Dyer continued: “I’m pleased that we all did really well. I want to get up there and be in the Premiership with Swansea and performances like this will help.

“Obviously getting a goal was nice and it will help my confidence. I haven’t had a back-post tap in before so that was good and to get the man-of-the-match on top of that was a bonus.”

For all the positives, there should be words of caution.

Firstly, few teams will defend as badly as Preston did and, with Treacy, John Parkin and Josh King all wasting golden opportunities to score for the visitors, the Swans own back four still looked a little rusty.

But those are concerns for another day. After an afternoon on which Swansea paid a fitting tribute to the late Besian Idrizaj, the exciting young striker who tragically died in his sleep this summer, there is little need for negativity.

SWANSEA CITY captain Garry Monk has spoken of his delight at being able to pay a fitting tribute to Besian Idrizaj on Saturday, dedicating the Swans 4-0 win over Preston to their former team-mate.

Idrizaj, who tragically died in his sleep on May 15 at the age of just 22, was a very popular member of the Swans squad. And, after a private memorial service for the players during the summer, the club as a whole paid their respects during Saturday’s thrashing of the Lilywhites.

A minute’s silence was held for Idrizaj before kick-off, during which thousands of fans held up cards to display a No 40 shirt in his honour. The shirt number has also been retired by the club.

For Monk and the rest of the players it was important they gave a fitting performance to celebrate the memory of the popular Austrian. And, insisting paying proper respect to Besian was more important than the three points, he was delighted they had done everything possible to show how much he meant to them.

“We said before we went out that Saturday was a special day,” he explained.

“It wasn’t just another game, it was for Besian, it really was.

“The players all said goodbye to Bes in the summer with a service.

“But, having the minute’s silence and the game dedicated to Besian and his family, it felt like the whole club was paying their respects.

“We were just really happy to win for him. I said to the players before in the huddle that there are other things that mean more than football so it was important that we went out there and did this for him.

“We managed to get four goals and put in a great performance. We all want to dedicate that to Besian and his family.

“It was a great tribute to him. He would have been happy to be part of a performance like that.

“He was a great talent and just a great lad. We all wanted to do everything we could to pay tribute to him and show how much we miss him.”

SWANSEA CITY new boy Scott Sinclair has insisted that his move from English giants Chelsea is not a backwards step.

When it comes to marks out of 10 there are not many categories in which Swansea would outscore Chelsea.

In fact, there’s probably only one – and Sinclair feels his club record move to Swansea and the chance to play first-team football is all important.

In six years at Stamford Bridge, Sinclair made just five league appearances for the Blues.

He was always talked about as a player with huge potential, showing as much during several different loan spells, but was never given a real chance to prove his worth.

Eventually, after a final loan stint with Roberto Martinez’s Wigan last season, enough was enough for the highly-rated winger.

And he decided it was time to start the next chapter of his career at Swansea.

While the opportunity to reunite with Brendan Rodgers was a key factor, the new Swans boss nurtured Sinclair’s talents during his time in charge of the academy and reserve teams at Chelsea. But it wasn’t the only one.

And, as he talked of playing on a weekly basis in a team that suits his style, it was clear the skilful 21-year-old didn’t have any regrets about his decision.

“Lots of people will be thinking I could have stayed in the Premiership,” he conceded.

“But I don’t see coming down to the Championship as a bad move or a backwards step.

“Hopefully I will be playing football week in, week out here. That makes it the right move for my career.

“I could have stayed at Chelsea, but I didn’t want to keep going the way I was. I learnt a hell of a lot there, but my opportunities were always going to be very limited.

“You get to a certain age and you need to be playing every week.

“Staying at Chelsea wouldn’t have helped my career in that sense.

“The only player that has actually gone through the ranks at Chelsea recently is John Terry.

“There aren’t many others being given a chance to do it and it will be hard for any player there to get an opportunity.

“I’m just looking forward to coming here and playing.

“Everyone wants to be in the Premier League, but, for me, the main thing is getting a game every week.”

As for why Swansea were the perfect fit for him, he said video footage had provided the answer.

“I have seen plenty of clips of this team and they are top class,” he said.

SWANSEA CITY could make a fresh move for Watford hit-man Danny Graham as new boss Brendan Rodgers’ search for a striker continues.

Rodgers has been hit by injuries to forwards Craig Beattie and Gorka Pintado and his attention has now turned to Graham.

Graham has picked up where he left off last season for Watford and has scored eight goals in his last four competitive appearances for the Hornets.

Watford manager Malky Mackay revealed the club turned down an enquiry from Swansea in June and says the in-form striker is not for sale at any price. But Rodgers refused to rule out the 25-year-old as a possible transfer target.

He said: “Danny is someone the club were interested in before I came to Swansea. But Danny is a player at another club so I won’t comment any more.”

Rodgers did admit the need to bring in a new striker was his top priority, even though they hit Preston for four yesterday.

He explained: “We still need to strengthen, there’s no question.

“The reality is we have two great strikers, so as great as the win against Preston was we’ve got to think of the future as well.

“We have to get the right type of striker, there are lots out there.

“But we need to get the right type to come in and play how we want to play. They have to have quality, hunger and ambition.

“I don’t necessarily believe in having a big front man. I want someone who is mobile, who moves well, and obviously someone who gets goals. Someone’s whose instincts is to score. We have a list of players and we want to make sure we get a few arrivals in.”

Pintado could be out for up to two months with a shoulder injury and Beattie is missing with a calf problem.

It leaves Rodgers with just Stephen Dobbie – the scorer of Swansea’s first goal yesterday – and Shefki Kuqi as the club’s only recognised strikers.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson insisted his team needed more time to gel after they crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Swansea.

The reverse followed the home loss to Doncaster on the opening weekend of the npower Championship season and meant North End have lost their opening two league games for the first time since the 1989/90 campaign.

But Ferguson said: "I always felt the early part of the season would be the hardest as we have a lot of new players at the club and it takes time, but it is going to be a long haul.

"We did well until we gave away that soft second goal but we want to be as competitive as possible to fix our place in this division and I have every confidence in my players to achieve that.

"We knew what to expect as Swansea are a good passing side but I felt we were comfortable until towards the end of the first half.

"It has been a disappointing start to the season with two defeats but I am sure that we can pull it round over the next few games.

"Despite the scoreline, our performance against Swansea was much improved on last season's visit."

The lively Stephen Dobbie gave Swansea a 23rd-minute lead and it was 3-0 at the break thanks to further strikes from Darren Pratley and Nathan Dyer. David Cotterill's second-half penalty completed the rout.

"It was a wonderful performance with four goals and a clean sheet and I have to be pleased with that," said Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers.

"The players want to play in the right way and both wingers were on top form but it was a good team performance.

"Concentration was good, particularly at the start of the second half, but motivation was the key.

"At half-time I told them that the next 45 minutes would be harder and they did exactly as I wanted.

"The players have responded to everything I have asked and it is a great day for the supporters who will all go home happy.

"It was fantastic but we want to continue to improve and it is my job as manager to keep raising the bar.

"What was impressive was the intensity the players brought to the game and they showed that they can accept responsibility."

Brendan Rodgers is hoping to claim his first league win on Saturday
Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers is stepping up his search for a new striker after being left with just two fit front men.

Rodgers only has Stephen Dobbie and Shefki Kuqi available after Gorka Pintado joined Craig Beattie on the sidelines.

"The priority is to get another striker in," Rodgers told BBC Sport Wales.

"Gorka is now injured with his shoulder for a few months so we really need that support."

Beattie, 26, endured an injury-hit first season at the Liberty Stadium since joining for a club-record £500,000 a year ago.

The Scotland international had hoped to make a fresh start as new campaign got underway.

But he picked up a calf injury in pre-season and did not feature in the 2-0 opening day defeat at Hull last weekend or Tuesday's 3-0 Carling Cup win over Barnet in midweek.

Allen eager for Liberty boost
He is still a couple of weeks away from a return while Spaniard Pintado's injury is more long-term.

It is a blow for Rodgers who is trying to rid the Swans of the Championship's lowest scorers tag which they picked up last season for scoring just 40 goals in 46 games.

But his immediate concern is securing a first league win at home to Preston North End on Saturday.

"It probably wasn't the ideal start last week at Hull but obviously we got a good win during the week in the cup," added Rodgers.

"That always breeds confidence, no matter how it comes. There's teams that have lost their first two games and that can always leave a wee sense of anticipation for that win.

"But we got a good win and performed well during the week and now we take that confidence into Saturday's game and am looking for another good performance."

DARREN Ferguson insists Swansea City will tomorrow face a very different Preston from the one they brushed aside at the Liberty last season.

The Lilywhites have endured a summer of turbulence since Swansea cruised to a 2-0 victory against them at the beginning of February.

Seven players have arrived and 10 left during the close season, while the club were summoned to the High Court by the taxman and hit with a transfer embargo that was only recently lifted.

"Our team has changed a lot since we last played at Swansea," said Ferguson.

"We have a lot more pace in the team now, and if we get hold of the ball we have the ability to counter-attack well.

"We've got fast legs in the team added to some good experience."

Among Preston's summer arrivals is Wales defender Craig Morgan, who signed for £400,000 from Peterborough.

But the Deepdale side remain one of the favourites for Championship relegation, priced as short as 3-1 with some bookmakers.

However, Ferguson remains bullish.

"The Championship is the best example of you being capable of winning any game you play," he added.

"Against Swansea we will have to be disciplined, patient when they have the ball and good in possession when we have it.

"When we went there last season it was a long 90 minutes, we struggled.

"The way Swansea play is that they wait until someone switches off and then try to capitalise on it.

"Hopefully we can put in a good performance and come away with a result."

stephen ware

HUW Jenkins says Darren Pratley has called time on his Liberty contract talks despite Swansea City offering to match what he might earn at Nottingham Forest.

And Jenkins has taken a fresh swipe at the player's camp — as well as Forest — after the tapping-up storm which erupted last weekend.

Jenkins has questioned how Pratley's people know what he might be paid by Forest when, according to the rules, no contact should have been made.

Forest have made a fresh offer for the midfielder, whose current deal expires at the end of the season. But Jenkins has denied reports that the bid is worth £1.5 million.

"I can confirm that we recently received a written offer from Nottingham Forest for Darren Pratley," the Swansea chairman said. "However, the offer is nowhere near the £1.5 million being reported and is not an up-front fee.

"The offer is also nowhere near the level we feel is right for a player of Darren's ability at this point.

"We have been in negotiations with Darren's agent and made an offer to match the hypothetical terms the agent somehow knows are on the table at Nottingham Forest.

"His agent has now stated that Darren does not want to talk about contracts or new deals any more and just wants to concentrate on his football.

"From Swansea City's point of view, taking into account the value and type of offer on the table from Forest, plus what's on offer to us as a club over the next six months as we try to achieve a top-six finish, the club may feel it is in our best interests to keep Darren on board to see out his contract."

SWANS fans will be able to take part in an emotional tribute to late striker Besian Idrizaj tomorrow.

A minute's silence will be held at the city's Liberty Stadium as a mark of respect to the popular 22-year-old, who died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Austria in May.

It will take place ahead of the Swans' Championship game with Preston.

Fans will be able to make the silence extra special by holding aloft the new edition black and white scarves during the silence in memory of the player.

The club is ensuring thousands of scarves are available for the day at a price of just £2.50. And the Evening Post has thrown its support behind the black and white day tribute by printing a 50p off voucher in yesterday's paper.

A Swansea City spokesman said: "There are certain moments in life when even the most passionate football fans are forced to put the beautiful game into perspective.

"Sadly, that was the case in the summer when we lost Besian.

"His death greatly affected everyone at the club from players, staff and the fans, who have already paid numerous heartwarming tributes to him.

"The players and club staff have also held their own personal service with chaplain Kevin Johns, while his number 40 shirt has been officially retired as a mark of respect.

"But the reason we've left the main minute's silence until Saturday's game is because Besian deserves a full Liberty Stadium to honour his short but successful life."

He added: "For Besian to look down and see thousands of Swans fans holding up their black and white scarves will be the perfect tribute. We know he'll have a smile on his face."

The club will also be remembering former club shop manager Myra Powles, director Harry Hyde and player Len Emmanuel who all passed away recently.

JOHN Toshack has challenged David Cotterill to fulfil his potential and become a regular part of his national plans.

Cotterill was handed just his second start for Wales in Wednesday's 5-1 hammering of Luxembourg — despite being left out of the original squad — and the Swansea City winger went on to score his first goal for his country.

His 35th-minute opener was the first goal scored for Wales by a Swansea player since Alan Curtis struck against Romania 27 years ago.

And, with Simon Davies announcing his international retirement, Toshack insists Cotterill has a big chance to stake his claim for a regular spot.

"I think David caused a lot of problems," said Toshack. "He did well. We said to him before the game that we always thought he had potential. Now he needs to fulfil that potential.

"The goal will have given him confidence. Playing in the position he knows, particularly in the second half, did him a lot of good.

"He does need to get on now, though. With Simon's retirement last week that is an area where, if he performs consistently, there is a place open for him.

"But that is up to him."

Cotterill terrorised Luxembourg left-back Mario Mutsch, who was eventually dismissed for two bookings, and the 22-year-old now hopes he has put his name in the frame for selection ahead of Wales's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which starts in Montenegro next month.

The former Wigan winger will get the chance to impress Toshack further in Swansea's Championship matches in the next few weeks.

But Toshack, who will lead Wales into a qualifying campaign for the last time, wants Cotterill to show more of the threat he posed at Parc y Scarlets.

"David had the beating of the lad (Mutsch)," added the Wales boss. "It's like a boxer, if you see your opponent has a cut eye then you go and do more damage to finish him off.

"We wanted to get the ball to David and see him get at the lad.

"There was a time for the manager to take him off, rather than see him get sent off. But when that last tackle came in, you can't tolerate it and he had to go.

"But David did what was asked of him, and he kept giving the lad major problems and eventually the referee had to call it a night for him. That's what we want to see from David."

Chris Barney

BRENDAN Rodgers has paid record signing Scott Sinclair a major compliment by comparing him with Wales captain Craig Bellamy.

Sinclair is expected to make his Swansea City debut against Preston tomorrow having signed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium earlier this week.

And Rodgers, who worked with the winger at Chelsea, reckons Sinclair will quickly prove his class after Swansea sealed a deal that could be worth more than £1 million.

The Swansea boss has pointed to Sinclair's pace and flair as two major factors in the decision to break the club's transfer record.

And he believes his first Swansea acquisition has similar attributes to Manchester City striker Bellamy.

Direct

"He is very direct," said Rodgers. "When he gets the ball he wants to score or threaten defences.

"He always puts people on the back foot, which is what we want. He will hopefully give us the penetration we need.

"I watched Craig Bellamy (in Llanelli on Wednesday) and it is a similar sort of thing with him. If you have that outstanding pace it really frightens teams.

"As well as goals, Scott will bring us that pace. There will not be many quicker than him."

Sinclair joins Nathan Dyer, David Cotterill, Cedric van der Gun and Tom Butler — although he is currently injured — in competing for the wide roles in Rodgers's 4-3-3 system.

Swansea fans should get their first glimpse of Sinclair in action tomorrow when Preston visit the Liberty.

And while Rodgers reckons Sinclair may take time to get up to top gear, he has no doubt he will be a huge success.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on him," he added. "He is coming here for three years, not one game.

"He has always looked after himself. He has played a part in games for Chelsea during pre-season.

"But, for sure, he is not going to be up to speed until he gets two or three games under his belt.

"He is going to be a great signing for this club."

Big factor

After loan spells at six different clubs, most recently Wigan in the Premier League last season, Sinclair has indicated that working under his former youth and reserve boss full-time at Swansea was a big factor in his move to South Wales.

Now Rodgers expects him to light up the Liberty after seeing him impress during his short-term stints.

"Part of my job at Chelsea was to keep an eye on the loan players," said Rodgers. "I would go and watch Scott and players like Michael Mancienne and Ryan Bertrand.

"What I always found with Scott was that wherever he was on loan, there was a real sense in the crowd that he could do something every time he got the ball.

"People were waiting for things to happen. He is that type of player."

BRENDAN Rodgers has admitted Darren Pratley's Swansea City future is in the balance amid continuing interest from Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers concedes there can be no guarantees over Pratley after his representatives told Swansea he is not interested in discussing a new deal at this stage.

The new Swansea manager will keep picking Pratley, and he should feature in tomorrow's opening home league clash of the campaign against Preston.

And Rodgers is adamant Pratley will not be sold unless Swansea have already secured an adequate replacement.

"I can see both sides of the coin," he said. "Darren's situation is simple. He has been offered a new contract and I would love him to stay.

"But obviously I don't run the business side of things. I know the club have made Darren a really, really good offer and he is taking his time to think about it.

"From a footballer's perspective, it's a very short career and I think Darren will look at what's happened to someone like Ferrie (Bodde) and see that all of a sudden the years can be taken away.

"Players have to think about their future and the security of their lives.

"At this club we are not going to be able to offer the masses that other clubs can, and I think that's the right way to do it. All the players here, not just Darren, will be offered good deals.

"They will have a wonderful life in Swansea playing for a great football club with great people and great supporters.

"Now if that's not enough and it's something else that they need, I can understand that. That's something that may take them away from here."

Pratley, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, served up a reminder of his quality with a fine solo goal in Swansea's midweek win over Barnet.

And Rodgers says "one of the best midfielders" in the division will stay in his side.

"As long as there's no drop in his focus, intensity and devotion to the club — and I don't expect there to be — I will keep playing him," he added.

"I've watched him closely over the last three weeks — sometimes he probably hasn't even realised I'm doing it.

"I've seen how he walks, how he talks and how he prepares for games, and he's the ultimate professional.

"I would like to keep him here, but there are some things that may be out of my control."

Rodgers insists Swansea will work hard "until the last minute" to retain one their most influential players.

"This club is run fantastically — there's no pressure to sell like there is at nine out of 10 clubs," he continued.

Problems

"The club will look to push the boat out as much as they can, but if you're bringing in £100 a week into your house and you're paying out £1,000, you're going to have problems.

"What I would say is that if Darren doesn't sign a deal, I would only be prepared to let him go if number one, the deal is right, and two, we had someone of equal or better quality coming in. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Rodgers could include another player whose future is uncertain, Angel Rangel, against Preston as the right-back is expected to shake off a thigh injury.

And there looks sure to be a debut for record signing Scott Sinclair as Swansea attempt to build on their midweek Carling Cup triumph against Barnet with a first league victory of the new campaign.

"We're really looking forward to the first league game at our stadium and we're hoping to make it a really difficult place to come," Rodgers said.

Swansea will pay tribute to former striker Besian Idrizaj before kick-off following his shocking death in May.

"If the players need any extra motivation, that should provide it," Rodgers added.

SHEFKI Kuqi's eyes tell how raw the emotions remain.

Three months on, the death of Besian Idrizaj will be back at the forefront of Swansea City minds tomorrow when they play their first home league game since his passing.

For Kuqi, what happened on that awful night in May has never been anywhere else.

Mere mention of Idrizaj's name sees the Swansea striker welling up.

"It's been very, very hard," he reveals.

After a private memorial service earlier this summer, Swansea will say a public goodbye to Idrizaj before kick-off against Preston North End.

Specially-produced scarves will be held aloft all around the Liberty, while a group of fans have organised cards which will spell out the player's name during a minute's silence.

There will be a personal tribute from Kuqi, as there was during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Barnet and as there will be during every Swansea fixture he is part of this season.

Kuqi wore a T-shirt bearing a picture of his friend under his Swans jersey in midweek and he will do the same each time he runs out on to the pitch.

"Bes meant a lot to me and to lose him so young is very difficult," he says.

"It's been a very emotional time for me, and the T-shirt will be with me always."

Idrizaj died suddenly in his sleep, suffering a suspected heart attack at home in Austria aged only 22.

The news stunned Swansea's players, who were left trying to digest the loss of a promising youngster they had been training with only a couple of weeks earlier.

None was hit harder than Kuqi, who had become great friends with his fellow forward during their all too brief time together at the Liberty.

Kuqi is an adopted Finn and Idrizaj had represented Austria, but they shared roots in Kosovo.

That was where Idrizaj was buried, with Kuqi the sole representative from Swansea at the hastily arranged funeral.

The big man did his club proud, organising flowers from the Swans as well as from Idrizaj's former side Liverpool.

Kuqi feels it was the least he could do.

"Bes is someone I will remember for a long time," he adds.

"It's still a shock what happened — I can't take it on board that he has gone.

"I think the shock is going away for his family now. Now they are missing him a lot."

Kuqi has been in regular contact with Idrizaj's father.

"I speak to him a lot on the phone and we have got really close," he explains.

"Bes's dad says to me that there are no words to say how happy we made his son.

"He says the last five months of his life were the happiest time of his life.

"When I signed for Swansea (in January) I met Bes and his mum was here as well.

"Bes and I used to spend a lot of time together. Whatever we did and wherever we went, we were together.

"When his mum went home, she said she was happier than when she arrived because Bes had met me and my wife and she felt relaxed about that.

"He used to come to my apartment and within two seconds he would lie on the floor and go to sleep.

"I would say 'What the hell are you doing?', and he would say 'I just feel so relaxed'.

"Like I say, it's very hard to accept that he has gone."

Birth

Kuqi's pain has been eased somewhat by the birth of his daughter, Urtina, almost four weeks ago.

"Me and my wife have been lucky that we have just had our little one," he says.

"That takes some pressure off the mind. It lets us think about something nice."

After the sadness of the summer, whether or not Kuqi scores goals this season seems fairly trivial.

The 33-year-old has had something of a back-up role through pre-season, with Stephen Dobbie seemingly Brendan Rodgers's No. 1 centre-forward right now with another one on the way.

But Kuqi describes life under the new manager as enjoyable, pointing to his "good ideas" and urging Swansea's players to respond.

"We need to do well on the pitch for him and hopefully we can get the first league win tomorrow, because that will take the pressure off," says the former Ipswich man.

Kuqi got his season up and running in midweek, finishing smartly near the end having missed a penalty early on against Barnet.

"Goals mean everything to a centre-forward so I was pleased to get one," he adds.

"But I was really disappointed with myself. I was really looking forward to the game but I wasn't happy with my overall performance.

"The quicker the game is, the better it is for me, but I can only blame myself.

"It was one of my worst performances for a long, long time."

Whether he starts or begins on the bench, Kuqi will hope for better this weekend.

Swansea's followers should do the same.

The big man, after all, could do with a lift.

DARREN PRATLEY has broken his summer silence and confirmed he intends to see out the final year of his contract with Swansea City after negotiations over a new one broke down.

In a statement released exclusively to the Western Mail, Pratley revealed the Swans had made him a “fantastic” offer to extend his stay at the Liberty Stadium.

But, speaking of his disappointment at how long it took the club to open negotiations, he said his fifth season in South Wales was highly likely to be his last.

Responding to a statement issued by Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins last night, which revealed the club had received a written offer from Nottingham Forest for Pratley, the former Arsenal trainee went on to insist he remained fully committed to giving everything to the Swans over the coming season. He then claimed it was likely he would seek a fresh challenge next summer, when he can leave on a free transfer.

While it will undoubtedly be disappointing to lose Pratley for nothing, Jenkins made it clear Forest’s offer, which is considerably less than the £1.5m that has been reported, did not represent a good deal for Swansea.

Pratley also said he had no intention of leaving and, as he explained his decision for the first time, the highly-rated 25-year-old said he hoped the fans would understand why he made it.

“I feel it is time I gave my side of the story regarding my future at the club and the recent contract negotiations that have been talked about in the media,” Pratley’s statement read.

“I haven’t said anything until this point because I wanted to know the full situation before I commented so that I wasn’t misleading the Swansea fans that have supported me so loyally.

“It is true that I have been unable to agree a new deal with Swansea and I now intend to see out the final year of my contract. During that time I will continue to give 100 per cent in everything I do for the club and I hope to be an integral part of a Swansea team that can challenge for the play-offs this season.

“I would like to make it clear that my decision is not motivated by money because the financial package Swansea put to me was fantastic. I am a man of principles though and I have been left disappointed by how long it took the club to offer me a new contract.

“I publicly made it clear last Christmas that I wished to extend my contract with Swansea as soon as possible. The former manager Paulo Sousa was aware of this and tried to get me a new deal, but nothing came forward from chairman Huw Jenkins.

“I continued to ask for a new deal, but Mr Jenkins then said this summer that he was not in a rush to offer me one. I was disappointed with that stance and it made me reconsider my future.

“As soon as Brendan Rodgers took over he made it clear he saw me as a key player and the club finally made me an offer in writing last Thursday, two days before the start of the season. As I have said, Swansea offered me a great deal, but I felt it was too late.

“I hope the fans can respect my decision and trust that I will continue to give everything to the Swansea cause. This will be my fifth season with the club and, while I have enjoyed every minute, I feel next summer might be the right time for a new challenge.”

Pratley’s statement will now add balance to a story in which only one side had previously been told. Until last night, the only comments regarding the midfielder’s future had come from Swansea.

Only hours before Pratley released his comments, chairman Jenkins had confirmed on the club’s website that, as revealed by the Western Mail on Tuesday, negotiations over a new deal had ended.

The Swans supremo suggested the club were not going to accept the bid from Forest and hinted they were likely to let Pratley see out the remainder of his current contract.

“We have been in negotiations with Darren’s agent and made an offer to match the hypothetical terms the agent somehow knows are on the table at Nottingham Forest,” Jenkins explained. “Following discussions with his agent, he has now stated that Darren does not want further talks about contracts or new deals and just wants to concentrate on his football.

“From Swansea City’s point of view, taking into account the value and type of offer on the table from Forest, plus what’s on offer to us as a football club over the next six months to achieve a top-six finish, the club may feel it is in our best interests to keep Darren on board and allow him to see out his contract.”

SWANSEA CITY are yet to make the breakthrough in their search for a striker.

But boss Brendan Rodgers is still hopeful of getting the man he wants before the transfer window slams shut in three weeks’ time.

Rodgers has pinpointed his need for a new frontman since replacing Paulo Sousa at the Liberty Stadium last month.

And, while he has made progress with the other areas he felt needed strengthening with the signing of wideman Scott Sinclair and the expected arrival of midfielder Kemy Agustien, he is yet to land a striker.

“There hasn’t been any progress yet. The club are working hard to bring someone in though and we still have a few weeks to go,” said Rodgers yesterday.

“Obviously I would rather have someone in sooner rather than later. We have had a couple of things turned down, but the search continues.”

Swansea were being linked with a late move for Jason Scotland, the former Swan close to agreeing a £750,000 transfer to Ipswich from Wigan.

And it is thought there was the possibility for Swansea to hijack Roy Keane’s bid for the 31-year-old Trinidad international, who hit 24 Championship goals for Swansea before a £2m move to the Premier League.

But it is understood Rodgers has set his sights elsewhere, citing the need for a young and hungry striker. Hull City frontman Caleb Folan had been touted as a potential target but it is thought the Irish international is not keen on a move away from his family home in the north.

Jenkins may allow midfielder's contract to run down

Swansea City have confirmed Darren Pratley has broken off contract talks and the midfielder may now be allowed to run down his current deal.

Pratley has 12 months remaining on his present contract at the Liberty Stadium and has been discussing an extension in South Wales.

Nottingham Forest have been trying to sign the former Fulham youngster and have also suggested Pratley is keen on a move to the City Ground.

However, Swans chairman Huw Jenkins says Forest have not made a suitable offer for the 25-year-old and the player may eventually leave the club on a free transfer.

Concentrating on football
Jenkins' statement on the club's official website read: "I can confirm that we recently received a written offer from Nottingham Forest for Darren Pratley.

"However the offer is nowhere near the £1.5million being reported and is not an up-front fee. The offer is nowhere near the level we feel is right for a player of Darren's ability at this point.

"We have been in negotiations with Darren's agent and made an offer to match the hypothetical terms the agent somehow knows are on the table from Nottingham Forest.

"Following discussions with his agent, he has now stated that Darren does not want further talks about contracts or new deals and just wants to concentrate on his football.

"From Swansea City's point of view, taking into account the value and type of offer on the table from Forest, plus what is on offer to us as a football club over the next six months to achieve a top-six finish, the club may feel it is in our best interests to keep Darren on board and allow him to see out his contract."

Swansea will pay their respects to Besian Idrizaj on Saturday in what is the club's first home league fixture of the new season.

The striker passed away over the summer at the age of just 22 following a heart attack while at home in Austria, leaving the club, players and fans alike shellshocked by his sudden death.

The Swans will hold a minute's silence before the home Championship clash against Preston and are also selling new edition black and white scarves to hold up during the tribute.

A club spokesman told City's official website: "The reason we've left the main minute's silence until Saturday's game is because Besian deserves a full Liberty Stadium to honour his short but successful life.

"For Besian to look down and see thousands of Swans fans holding up their black and white scarves will be the perfect tribute. We know he'll have a smile on his face."

Accrington have been rewarded for their Carling Cup defeat of Championship Doncaster with a second-round tie at home against Newcastle United.

Bradford, who beat Nottingham Forest, host Preston, while Derby's conquerors Crewe will entertain Ipswich.

Morecambe play Burnley, Southend travel to Wolves, West Ham host Oxford United and Port Vale meet Fulham in the week beginning 23 August.

Premier League sides who qualified for Europe do not join until round three.

The Carling Cup final and two semi-final legs will be shown live on BBC television, with highlights of every game available on the BBC Sport website for UK users.
Carling Cup second round draw:

Accrington v Newcastle
Portsmouth v Crystal Palace
Leeds v Leicester
Wolverhampton v Southend
Blackburn v Norwich
MK Dons v Blackpool
Tranmere v Swansea
Everton v Huddersfield
Peterborough v Cardiff
Reading v Northampton
Scunthorpe v Sheff Wed
Brentford v Hull
Sunderland v Colchester
Leyton Orient v West Brom
Morecambe v Burnley
Birmingham v Rochdale
Crewe v Ipswich
Watford v Notts County
West Ham v Oxford Utd
Southampton v Bolton
Bradford v Preston
Fulham v Port Vale
Millwall v Middlesbrough
Stoke v Shrewsbury
Hartlepool v Wigan

Ties to be played week commencing 23 August

COLIN Pascoe has saluted Swansea City's bright young things after they helped the club into round two of the Carling Cup.

Joe Allen and new boy Scott Donnelly both impressed in midfield as Brendan Rodgers's men eased past Barnet on Tuesday.

And 18-year-old youth product Joe Walsh put in a solid shift as part of a Swansea defence which kept a first clean sheet of the season.

"I thought Joe Walsh did fantastically on his senior debut," said Swansea coach Pascoe.

"It was nice to see Joe Allen back in the side after his injury.

"He was good on the ball as usual and Scott Donnelly was the same.

"Both of them were always available and it was great for both of them to be involved."

Swansea made a sluggish start in midweek, gifting the Bees a couple of early chances. Had they been taken, Rodgers's men would have faced a very awkward evening.

But Swansea took advantage of Barnet's profligacy in front of goal, recovering from their early struggles to chalk up a comfortable 3-0 win.

Shefki Kuqi missed a penalty when the game was goalless but, after another good chance had gone begging, the big Finn made amends by completing the scoring late on.

"You will miss some and you will score some — that's part and parcel of being a striker," Pascoe added.

"But I was glad Shefki got his goal — with what was probably the hardest chance he had. It is never easy when you are one on one with the keeper and have time to think about it, but he took it superbly."

ALAN Tate is tipping Scott Sinclair to thrive at Swansea City — and to ease the pressure on Brendan Rodgers's defence.

Swansea have completed one of the most spectacular pieces of transfer business in their history by landing Sinclair in a deal which could eventually be worth more than £1 million.

And Tate expects Sinclair to provide the sort of quality in the final third which Swansea lacked all too often last season.

"We welcome players who can come and score goals and create goals," Swansea's vice-captain said.

"The fans don't want to see defenders defending all the time — they pay their money and they want to see attacking football. And as players we want to see it as well.

"If we are getting a few goals, it makes life easier for people like me because we don't have to keep clean sheets all the time!"

Swansea's success last season was based on a miserly rearguard, Dorus de Vries churning out a record-breaking 24 league clean sheets as Paulo Sousa's men finished just outside the play-off places.

But there is a change of emphasis under Rodgers, who wants players like Sinclair to go at Championship opponents this term.

And Tate reckons that despite being only 21, Sinclair will cope with the expectation on his shoulders.

"I haven't seen a lot of Scott, but I have heard a lot about him and it's all been good," he added.

"There's going to be pressure on him with the price tag because I don't think we've ever paid that sort of money for anyone.

"But hopefully that won't affect him, and I don't think it will because he seems a level-headed lad.

"Hopefully he can do well for us and score a few goals."

Ineligible for the midweek Carling Cup win over Barnet, Sinclair should make his Swansea debut this weekend when Preston North End arrive for Rodgers's first Liberty league game.

And Tate admits a victory would be timely as Swansea look to build momentum under their new manager.

"It was good to get the first win against Barnet, but hopefully we can follow that up on Saturday because the league is our bread and butter," he said.

"Three goals and a clean sheet were good in the cup, even if it wasn't our most convincing display defensively.

"Now we want the first league win because that always settles everyone down.

"Hopefully that will come against Preston, although they are a very good team."

gareth vincent

DARREN Pratley gave Swansea City's fans — or at least those sat near the directors' box on Tuesday — a spectacular reminder of the No. 8 on the back of his shirt.

The question on the lips of all at the Liberty is how much longer there will be a swan on the front.

As has been the case all summer, Pratley is keeping quiet on his future in these parts.

The player's head has — unsurprisingly — been turned by interest from elsewhere and sensibly, he has decided that keeping schtum is a better policy than coming out and saying the wrong thing.

But actions can sometimes speak louder than words, and Pratley's very deliberate goal celebration in midweek appeared to carry a message.

This was not a case of kissing the badge to pander to the supporters.

It appeared to be a planned charge in the direction of Swansea's money men, with little Kerry Morgan the unfortunate team-mate who tried to join the celebrations.

The little winger was shrugged off by Pratley, who then removed his jersey and held up the name and number.

Last season's leading marksman had just opened this season's account with a fine solo effort, so perhaps this was the moment to make his point.

Swansea say negotiations over a new contract are continuing with Pratley, and a fresh agreement is by no means out of the question at this stage.

But there are suggestions that those talks have reached something of a stalemate, with Swansea apparently unwilling to meet Pratley's demands.

Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of the player.

Priority

He made extending Pratley's deal his top priority after taking the reins last month, and he believes it is worth pushing the boat out to keep hold of one of the finest midfielders in the division.

Swansea's owners agree — Pratley deserves to be one of the club's highest-paid players, if not the biggest earner on the books.

But there is no endless flow of money at the Liberty, and Swansea, unlike so many others, are not prepared to splash cash they do not have.

They could offer Pratley big bucks, but the pay rises would not end there.

Because if Pratley gets a hike, his team-mates will very soon get to know about it and then they will want the same.

Swansea have to a find a way of persuading Pratley to stick around without breaking their wage structure, which looks like being easier said than done.

It is not that Pratley is desperate to move on, or that he is unhappy in Wales and is hungry for change.

But the former Fulham youngster is well aware that footballers' careers do not go on for ever, and he is keen to earn what he can while his remarkable engine keeps on working.

Understandable, really.

Pratley is not supposed to know, of course, but it is decent bet that he has got wind of what he might earn at Nottingham Forest, his long-time suitors.

And it is an even safer wager that the figures on offer at the City Ground will trump what Swansea might be able to pay.

So where will it all end?

Swansea's followers will hope that those at the top of their club will eventually find some common ground with Pratley.

If they can't, Huw Jenkins and Co must decide whether to cash in on Pratley now or risk losing him on a Bosman free transfer when his current contract expires next year, as happened with Leon Britton this summer.

Having spent big on Scott Sinclair, they may be loath to let another asset leave for nothing.

Carling Cup: Second round draw made

Accrington can look forward to a Carling Cup second-round tie with Newcastle after the draw on Wednesday, while Bolton travel to Southampton.

League Two side Stanley have been rewarded for Tuesday night's victory over Doncaster with a home tie against the north east giants.

Accrington made the headlines last year when they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup before losing 3-1 to Fulham.

Everton were handed a tricky draw at home to League One promotion hopefuls Huddersfield while Sunderland will host Colchester.

MK Dons will hope to cause an upset when they host Blackpool while their fellow Barclays Premier League newcomers West Brom travel to Leyton Orient.

Hartlepool, 2-0 winners over Sheffield United in round one on Wednesday night, will fancy their chances of another upset at home to Wigan.

Of the other Premier League teams in action, Wolves host Southend, Blackburn face Norwich, Birmingham entertain Rochdale and West Ham welcome Football League newcomers Oxford.

Bolton look to have a tricky tie away at Southampton while Fulham face Port Vale and Stoke host Shrewsbury.

Portsmouth and Crystal Palace will be able to commiserate over their financial woes when they meet at Fratton Park while other notable ties include Leeds v Leicester, Brentford v Hull, and Middlesbrough's visit to Millwall.

The matches will be played in the week commencing August 23.

Second round draw in full:

Accrington v Newcastle, Portsmouth v Crystal Palace, Leeds v Leicester, Wolves v Southend, Blackburn v Norwich, MK Dons v Blackpool, Tranmere v Swansea, Everton v Huddersfield, Peterborough v Cardiff, Reading v Northampton, Scunthorpe v Sheffield Wednesday, Brentford v Hull

Sunderland v Colchester, Leyton Orient v West Brom, Morecambe v Burnley, Birmingham v Rochdale, Crewe v Ipswich, Watford v Notts County, West Ham v Oxford, Southampton v Bolton, Bradford v Preston, Fulham v Port Vale, Millwall v Middlesbrough, Stoke v Shrewsbury, Hartlepool v Wigan.

Swansea City midfielder Matty Collins has left the club by mutual consent in search of regular first team football.

Collins, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season, failed to make an impact during his three years at the Liberty Stadium.

"It was my decision in the end," said Collins. "I'm 24 and need to play regular football.

"It's a risk leaving the club without a contract elsewhere, although I have a few things in the pipeline."

The former Welsh Under-21 international signed for the Swans in the summer of 2007 from Premier League side Fulham.

Fulham had paid Swindon Town £250,000 for the Merthyr-born product as a 15-year-old, but like so many youngsters moving to a big club he found it difficult to force his way into the first team.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman offered Collins a new contract, but at 21 he felt he needed to start playing regular first team football and signed for the Swans instead.

But Collins made just six league and cup appearances for the Swans, plus three appearances on loan for Wrexham.

Swansea City's new record signing Scott Sinclair is aiming to be the solution the the club's lack of goals.

Swansea's new record signing Scott Sinclair is aiming to be the solution the the club's lack of goals.

The Swans finished just one place below on the Championship play-off positions last season, with many citing the club's paltry goal return of 40 from 46 games as being the main reason for this.

Sinclair, who signed from reigning Premier League Champions Chelsea in a deal that could rise to over £1m earlier this week, can play on the wing or up front, and he is determined to add some much-needed firepower to the Welsh side to help them achieve promotion.

He told the Western Mail: "I've scored a few goals in the Championship before so I'm hoping I can bring some goals and flair to the team.

"Everyone keeps saying goals were a problem last season. The amount of possession was great and I want to come here and create more chances and be direct.

"Last season we only missed the play-offs by a goal and hopefully I can bring more goals and help them go up."

SCOTT Sinclair is aiming to supply the killer touch Swansea City have been searching for as he prepares to debut against Preston this weekend.

The former Chelsea starlet watched his new club in action for the first time in last night's Carling Cup clash with Barnet.

And Swansea's record signing admits he can't wait to get to work under Brendan Rodgers.

"The manager played a big part in me coming here because I know he has a lot of qualities after playing for him at Chelsea," Sinclair said. "He has worked under Jose Mourinho, who is obviously one of the best managers in the world.

"He has learned from one of the best and he knows football inside out, so it's good to be playing under him again. Hopefully, I can bring some goals to the team as well as some flair. We are a great passing team. That's my kind of football and I'm confident I can score goals in the Championship.

"Everyone keeps saying that the goals were a bit of a problem last season, but the great thing is that Swansea keep possession so well.

"I will try to be direct and to create chances. I want to score goals and provide assists, and I believe I can do that."

Sinclair, who has agreed a three-year deal, is keen to put some roots down in Swansea after a succession of loan spells.

And he is relishing the prospect of regular football having been forced to play a bit-part role at Stamford Bridge.

"It's time for me to come and play games," he added. "Everyone wants to play in the Premier League, but I want to play football. I have played 10 minutes here and there at Chelsea, but I've got to the stage where I want to play every week.

"I want to enjoy my football and I want to be happy. It's quite distressing when you are not playing and your chances are limited at one of the biggest clubs.

"Hopefully I can settle down at Swansea and be happy playing every week."

Highly rated since making his Bristol Rovers debut as a 15-year-old, Sinclair has become used to handling expectation. And the former England Under-20 flyer says the hefty fee Swansea paid for him — £500,000 rising to more than £1million — will only drive him on.

As for a return to the highest level, Sinclair is staying away from bold predictions for now.

"I have just got to concentrate on taking every training session and every game as they come," he said. "But maybe if you ask me again in mid-season, we can see where we are.

"Last season the lads only missed out on the play-offs by one goal, so hopefully I can bring some goals and help the team go up."

DARREN Pratley sent out a message to Swansea City last night after coming off the bench to help Brendan Rodgers's men into the second round of the Carling Cup.

Pratley's Liberty Stadium future remains in some doubt amid continuing interest from Nottingham Forest.

But the marathon man in Swansea's midfield seemed keen to make a statement after netting the second goal in a comfortable 3-0 win over Barnet.

Already ahead thanks to Cedric van der Gun, Swansea put the game beyond doubt when Pratley fired in from 15 yards.

The 25-year-old then shrugged off his team-mates before removing his shirt and holding his name and number up towards the West Stand.

Was this a point made to Swansea's board of directors? Perhaps.

Amid talk of stalled contract negotiations, it was certainly another reminder of Pratley's undoubted talent.

Watching on in the crowd, Scott Sinclair will no doubt be hoping that Pratley is a colleague for a while yet.

Swansea's record signing was paraded before kick-off as Rodgers sent out a team showing seven changes from the weekend defeat at Hull.

International call-ups meant Swansea were without the likes of Ashley Williams and David Cotterill, but most of the alterations were through choice.

Summer signing Scott Donnelly and 18-year-old Joe Walsh both handed competitive debuts.

Walsh, one of this year's youth-team graduates, was on the left side of a defence who were given a rough ride in an opening spell where Barnet might easily have gone ahead.

The Bees only escaped relegation to the Blue Square Premier on the final day of last season, and they began the new League Two campaign with defeat at Chesterfield last Saturday.

But the Londoners were quickly into the stride here as they gave Garry Monk and Co plenty to think about.

When a long clearance skipped off the turf and over the head of Swansea's captain, midfielder Mark Byrne scooted goalwards but dragged his shot just the wrong side of the post.

Within 60 seconds Barnet were pressing again, Ricky Holmes getting in on the left but seeing his effort well saved by Dorus de Vries.

And Swansea were indebted to the big Dutchman again only a minute later as he smothered Glenn Poole's drive.

Stung into action, Swansea gradually got their passing game going and Shefki Kuqi's opening sighter was stopped by Barnet keeper Jake Cole.

On 18 minutes the Finnish frontman had a golden chance to open the scoring – and wasted it.

The lively van der Gun was Barnet's tormentor, the winger cutting in from the left and then being clipped by Sam Cox as he turned back outside.

Referee Andy Penn pointed to the spot, but Kuqi's blasted effort crashed down off the underside of the bar and away to safety.

The woodwork was soon rattling again, Kerry Morgan's cross almost embarrassing Cole as it smacked the bar.

Three minutes later Swansea found the breakthrough. Morgan was involved again, the little winger crossing deep for van der Gun to nod home only his third Swansea goal at the far post.

The former Ajax man, who has been linked with a move before the transfer window shuts, was doing his best to stake a claim to stay.

Donnelly was bright, the new boy seeing one drive deflect wide before a second was beaten away by Cole.

One crisp move teed up a shooting chance for Joe Allen, but the fit-again playmaker's 25-yard drive took a narrow deflection and whistled just the wrong side of the post.

Suited and booted on the touchline, Rodgers looked fairly content, whistling and waving only now and again.

Swansea's new manager sent on fresh legs just after the hour, Darren Pratley and Mark Gower arriving in place of Donnelly and Allen.

The Northern Irishman's team almost made it two, van der Gun cutting inside once more from the left before drilling a shot across the face.

Keen to make amends for his penalty miss, Kuqi set off on another bullocking run before seeing his shot deflect away to safety.

Morgan's 20-yarder flew wide, before Pratley settled any home nerves with a peach of a finish.

Last season's top scorer drove beyond a couple of tackles before drilling the ball high into the net for his first of the new campaign.

Having missed a good chance after good work from Nathan Dyer, Kuqi finally got on the scoresheet at the death after breaking the offside trap and sidefooting beyond Cole.

Job done.

SWANSEA City's new record signing Scott Sinclair says he can be the answer to the club's goalscoring problems.

The 21-year-old arrived at the Liberty Stadium from Premier League giants Chelsea this week, in a deal that could be worth in excess of £1m.

He’s promised to add some much-needed firepower to the Swans, who managed just 40 goals last season.

Sinclair said: “I’ve scored a few goals in the Championship before so I’m hoping I can bring some goals and flair to the team.

“Everyone keeps saying goals were a problem last season. The amount of possession was a great and I want to come here and create more chances and be direct.

“Last season we only missed the play-offs by a goal and hopefully I can bring more goals and help them go up.”

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers knows all about Sinclair from their time together at Chelsea, where Rodgers was youth team coach as the youngster came through the ranks.

“The manager played a big part in me coming to Swansea,” said Sinclair, who has previously spent time on loan at Plymouth, Wigan and Crystal Palace.

“He’s got many qualities, he worked under Jose Mourinho and he’s got a lot of experience. He knows football inside out, to be honest.

“It’s great to be back playing under him.”

Sinclair revealed he was being chased by a number of Premier League and Championship clubs. but says a move to South Wales was his first choice.

He added: “This is the right club for me.

“When you go out on loan you are always worried about what’s going to happen next year, but now I’m looking to settle down and be happy.

“I’ve watched a lot of Swansea’s games and I like the way they play football.

“It’s a style that really suits me.

“I’ve got the stage where I want to play every week and enjoy my football.”

DARREN PRATLEY had his say on a week of column inches over his future with a goal to see off League Two Barnet – and a message to the Swans board.

The midfielder had seen his name dragged into the weekend row with Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur who claimed the 25-year-old was keen on a move to the City Ground.

And then yesterday, details of a breakdown in talks over a new Liberty Stadium contract were revealed by the Western Mail.

The Londoner has remained silent so far on the speculation over his future this summer. But, having let his football do the talking by grabbing Swansea’s second following Cedric van der Gun’s 24th-minute opener, Pratley made sure he pointed out his worth with his celebration.

After he fired home with 19 minutes of the first-round tie remaining, Pratley removed his shirt and held up his name and number in the direction of the Swansea board.

He needn’t have bothered – there are few who are unaware of the value of this player to the Swansea side, manager Brendan Rodgers included.

And, even with new signing Scott Sinclair in the stands, Pratley remains the star man of the Swans midfield. Whether it was a message to nudge chairman Huw Jenkins with regards to contract talks, or simply reinforcing his commitment to supporters, Pratley was happy enough to take a booking to make his point.

And boss Rodgers would have been happy enough with the night as a whole, Sheki Kuqi atoning for an early penalty miss with a third two minutes from time.

There was also an encouraging performance from youngster Kerry Morgan, a bow for youth team product Joe Walsh and a work-out for Joe Allen after he received the all-clear to return to action following shoulder surgery.

It might have proved a tad more problematic had Barnet taken advantage of Swansea’s slowness out of the blocks.

Three times the Bees buzzed around the Swansea penalty area inside the first 10 minutes, three times the Swans were let off the hook.

Captain Garry Monk was unusually hesitant when Jake Cole’s hoofed goal-kick bounced towards Dorus de Vries, Mark Byrne stealing through and shooting just wide.

Then, after Ricky Holmes also tried his luck after getting in behind, Glen Poole got an early sight of goal when lone striker Kuqi cheaply lost the ball on the halfway line.

But after the scare, Swansea settled into their stride with Morgan eager to cut in from his wide right position and getting in a first home shot of the evening 14 minutes in.

Yet it was on the opposite flank that saw the first real chance of the tie created, van der Gun attacking the box from the deep left and drawing the foul from Sam Cox after he had arguably overrun the ball.

It was an easy decision for official Andy Penn – and should have been the easiest of chances for Kuqi to open his account for the season after demanding the ball for the 18th-minute spot-kick.

But, if it was certainly a powerful enough attempt from 12 yards, Barnet keeper Cole was saved by his crossbar which continued to rattle some time after the miss.

But there was no chance of van der Gun not finding the net simply enough when a searching Morgan delivery found the Dutchman unmarked an able to nod home from the far post.

Morgan was in the thick of things again soon after as Swansea stretched their lower league opponents, linking well with Scott Donnelly, who grew into the game from the heart of midfield.

And the summer signing from Aldershot should have sealed his first competitive start with a goal six minutes from the break as van der Gun teed him up following an intricate counter.

Barnet did push and de Vries had to save from Poole just before the interval, but there was little doubt just who was in command of this contest.

Rodgers certainly thought as much, withdrawing Allen, while Donnelly also made way, the debutant able to be pleased enough with his efforts.

And, after de Vries had to save well from Kelly, sub Pratley wasted little time making his mark and then his point with his goal and ensuing celebration, firing home from just inside the area after taking full advantage of a quick free-kick. And Kuqi then wrapped it up.

Darren Pratley signalled his commitment to Swansea as they won 3-0 at home to Barnet in the Carling Cup first round on Tuesday night.

The midfielder, who is keen on a switch to interested Nottingham Forest according to Reds chief executive Mark Arthur, grabbed the killer second goal for the Swans at the Liberty Stadium before taking off his shirt and celebrating in what appeared to be a show of loyalty to the home fans.

His goal rounded off a deserved victory for the npower Championship side who broke the deadlock midway through the first half courtesy of Dutchman Cedric van der Gun.

Shefki Kuqi grabbed a third late on, making up for the penalty he fired against the underside of the crossbar earlier in the evening with the score still goalless.

The League Two visitors settled straight from kick-off and showed they were not to be overawed at the Liberty Stadium, but they were given a let off as early as the 19th minute when Kuqi missed from the spot after Sam Cox had brought down Van der Gun.

And they could count themselves lucky just two minutes later when Kerry Morgan again smashed the Barnet crossbar with an ambitious shot from distance.

But the Bees defence was finally breached as Van der Gun headed home Albert Serran's right-wing cross from close range.

Swansea were more comfortable in possession after the opener, although Barnet were certainly not out of it heading into the second half.

But Brendan Rodgers' side were firmly on the front foot as they went in search of a crucial second, Van der Gun, Morgan and Joe Allen all going close. And the goal finally arrived via Pratley in the 72nd minute as the in-demand ex-Fulham trainee capped a driving run with an unstoppable shot past Jake Cole.

Kuqi missed a sitter from 12 yards as the game entered the closing stages before finally finding the net at the third attempt to round off a successful evening for Swans boss Rodgers in what was his first competitive game at the Liberty Stadium.

Former Chelsea winger agrees three-year deal

Swansea have signed winger Scott Sinclair from Chelsea on a three-year contract for an initial fee of £500,000.

The deal for the 21-year-old could eventually be worth more than £1million with appearances and performance-related add-ons.

And Swans boss Brendan Rodgers, who knows Sinclair from their days together at Chelsea, thinks that the move will be beneficial for both parties.

Sinclair was sent out on several loan spells when with Chelsea, with his clubs including Wigan, Crystal Palace and QPR, and the move represents a real coup for the Swans.

"Scott is obviously a player I know well and I am delighted to sign him," Rodgers told the club's official website.

"He is a big talent and has been a sought-after player since he broke onto the scene.

Fantastic fans
"As far as I am concerned there is no better place for him than Swansea City. With this group of players, style of football and fantastic fans, this will be a great club for his development.

"He is only 21 and still has big potential. I think this will be a good home for him. He is a great signing for the present and the future and joins a group of exciting young players."

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins added: "While everyone is aware that we run a tight ship here financially, we will always invest in the team when funds are available.

"I think this signing highlights our intent.

"It is also the club's priority to invest in bright, young talent wherever possible and I don't think you will find many young players with the talent Scott possesses."

The deal remains subject to Premier League and Football League ratification, meaning Sinclair, who has represented England at every level up to Under 20, will not be available for Swansea's Carling Cup clash with Barnet on Tuesday.

MARK Gower remembers his skipper at Barnet pinning up a picture of the kids in the dressing room.

He remembers thousands of fans being unable to get into Underhill amid the clamour to see the Bees and Torquay United fight for their Football League lives.

And he remembers the feeling of devastation as defeat on home turf sent Barnet into the Conference.

"I had been so sheltered playing reserve-team football at Spurs that I didn't really realise what I was getting into when I signed for Barnet," Gower says. "I remember being sat in the dressing room before the Torquay game and the captain, Greg Heald, bringing in a picture of his children which he put on his peg.

Protected

"I was thinking 'What's going on?'.

"I was a young lad who had been wrapped up in cotton wool at Tottenham and I didn't grasp what the game meant to these lads.

"I was sad afterwards, obviously, but I didn't really realise what the repercussions would be.

"I didn't realise people would be losing their jobs and I didn't know about the big cuts that would come in non-league.

"I learned pretty quickly."

After a couple of League Cup appearances at White Hart Lane, Gower joined Barnet in 2001 unaware of the traumas which would follow.

"John Still had been the manager at Barnet the season before and he'd tried to get me a couple of times, but I didn't want to drop down that far," Gower adds.

"Then I pretty much got shoved out of the door by George Graham — that's another story — and I signed when Tony Cottee was player-manager.

"Barnet had been halfway up the table at Christmas, but I didn't realise they had lost something like nine of their last 10 games before I joined.

"They were 16th or 17th in the table when I got there and we only won a couple of games after that.

"It all came down to the final day against Torquay.

"They were bottom and we were second bottom, and whoever won stayed up.

"There were about 5,000 fans locked outside, it was pandemonium, and we ended up going 3-0 down inside half an hour. We got back it to 3-2 but that wasn't enough."

Gower, who comes up against Barnet in the Carling Cup tonight, ended up playing in the Conference for 18 months before Southend United brought him back to the Football League.

"I didn't really know what things were like in the big wide world before I went to Barnet," he admits.

"Looking back it was probably the wrong move for me, but maybe the time I spent playing non-league football helped.

"The experience toughened me up and maybe it helped me in the long run, because I managed to climb back up to a good level.

"And I will always be grateful to Barnet. They gave me my league debut and, when things didn't go right, they let me go so I could get back into the league."

Gower is delighted that his former team are now back in the npower divisions themselves, and looks out for their results even seven years after leaving.

But tonight he hopes Barnet will be put to the sword as Swansea attempt to get their season going.

"I thought there were some really encouraging signs at Hull," he adds.

"But it's important we get that first win and it's also important to get a couple of goals after last season.

"That's going to get written about until we start scoring on a regular basis, and hopefully this is a chance to put in a good performance."

SWANSEA City are keeping fingers crossed that Darren Pratley will sign a new deal at the Liberty in the wake of claims that Nottingham Forest have tapped up the midfielder.

Huw Jenkins has hit out at Forest chief executive Mark Arthur after he suggested Pratley wants to leave Wales for the City Ground.

Given that Swansea have snubbed Forest's advances, the Midlands club should not have had any contact with the player.

Jenkins says Swansea are yet to decide whether to make any formal complaint about Forest's tactics. And the Swansea chairman is more concerned about trying to persuade Pratley to extend his contract.

"We are always hopeful that we can do something but, as with any negotiations, both parties have got to be thinking along the same lines in order to do a deal," he said.

"We will have to see how things go with Darren and his agent over the next couple of days.

"We are going to speak to them and we hope he will sign a new contract with us."

Swansea had expressed optimism about the chances of Pratley staying last week, but Jenkins is less bullish now.

"I think in modern football we will have to get used to players moving around far more than they used to," he added.

"Week after week after week you have got clubs and agents telling players what they can earn if they go and play for another club.

"Darren has played for us for five or six years, just as Leon Britton did.

"I think players will stay at clubs for that sort of time less and less in the modern game."

Jenkins says Arthur's claims — he also suggested Cardiff's Peter Whittingham wants to join Forest — were a surprise given that the club have made no contact over Pratley since Swansea rebuffed a bid last month.

But when asked whether Swansea would take any action against Forest, Jenkins added: "I don't know — we will see what develops.

"Things get said and I don't know if looking to do something about it is going to benefit Swansea City."

Jenkins, meantime, has described reports linking Ashley Williams with Wigan Athletic as "absolute rubbish".

Collins linked with Neath as Robinson rumours are rubbished


MATTY Collins has emerged as Neath's latest high-profile target — but Andy Robinson won't be heading to The Gnoll.

The Evening Post understands talks have taking place between the Welsh Premier League and Collins, who is still contracted at Swansea City.

Collins, who has made just seven appearances in three years at the Liberty, would follow in the footsteps of former team-mates Lee Trundle, Kristian O'Leary, Chad Bond and Chris Jones if he agrees a deal.

The 24-year-old, who has played at right-back and midfield for Swansea, is deemed surplus to requirements as Brendan Rodgers targets a play-off spot.

It is understood the deal hinges on a severance package between Collins and Swansea, with the former Wales Under-21 international keen to play on a regular basis.

While Collins is being strongly tipped to join the Neath revolution, the Eagles have rubbished rumours linking them with former Swansea midfielder Robinson.

Robinson, who is represented by the same agent as Trundle, is in a similar position as Collins. The Scouser is under contract at Leeds, but way down the pecking order.

He is keen for a move, with agent Neil Sang revealing he was "bemused by the lack of interest" in Robinson.

But it has prompted a reaction from Neath, with manager Andy Dyer playing down the rumours.

"I turned up for work and by 11.30am I had my staff telling me I was signing Andy Robinson, which was quite an interesting way to start the week," said Dyer. "But I can confirm that we have had no contact with Andy or his representative, and neither do we expect to. I'm sure he's on a lot more money than what we can offer."

He added: "We don't see it as a compliment, as such, because you question the strength of the sources that brought out this rumour.

"Yes, we have made some big signings recently, but I think people need to have some common sense when they are floating these names about."

Neath kick off their league campaign at Welsh Cup holders Bangor on Saturday.

Toshack turns to Cotterill as squad hit by further withdrawals

DAVID Cotterill has been called up to the Wales squad.

The Swansea City winger was summoned by John Toshack yesterday after his squad to face Luxembourg at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow was hit by withdrawals.

Simon Davies has retired from international football, while Sam Vokes pulled out after suffering a hamstring injury at the weekend.

But Wales midfielder Joe Ledley insists the squad have not been unsettled by Davies's sudden decision to quit international football.

The midfielder, who has been troubled by an ongoing foot injury, is the latest in a long line of players to call time on their Wales careers since Toshack took over the reigns from Mark Hughes in 2004.


Ledley said: "He was here when I first came into the squad and he's been a great player for Wales. We wish him all the best.

"It's his decision and we appreciate what he's done for Wales. But there's an opportunity now for one of the young kids to come in. I don't think it's unsettled anyone, it's just one of those things."

At 23 and with 32 caps to his name, Ledley finds himself as one of the more experienced players in the Wales camp, and it is a role he is happy to take on. He continued: "I'm one of the seniors now, even though I'm still young.

"It's a great team but there's a lot of young players, so it's good to have some experience.

"Some of the boys have given me a bit of stick about getting on a bit but it's great to have so much experience at such a young age."

Ledley has not played for Wales since November following injury and his involvement in the Championship play-offs with Cardiff.

But he believes victory over European minnows Luxembourg would set the tone perfectly.

"It's been a while since I played for Wales but it's great to be back," he said. "It's a massive game and hopefully we can put in a good performance and get a win.

"It would be great if we could have some confidence behind us going into the [Euro 2012] campaign. We've got a good team and we've been reasonably lucky with injuries."

Toshack has not been without his injury troubles, with James Collins, Lewin Nyatanga, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison all unavailable.

SWANSEA CITY have sent out a major statement of intent to the Championship after finalising a club record deal for highly-rated Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair.

After almost a week of speculation, Sinclair finally put pen to paper on a three-year contract last night. The deal will see the Swans pay an initial £500,000 but the overall package could break the £1m mark depending on the club’s future success.

The pacey 21-year-old becomes Brendan Rodgers’ first signing at the Liberty Stadium. He is likely to make his debut in Saturday’s home clash with Preston because he signed after the 12pm deadline for tonight’s Carling Cup tie with Barnet.

With several Premiership and Championship clubs vying for his services, Sinclair’s arrival is a major coup for the Swans as they look to build on last season’s seventh-placed finish. He was widely regarded as one of the more exciting prospects in the Chelsea academy, made 14 appearances for the Blues’ senior team and is seen as a player with big Premiership potential.

Rodgers, who helped nurture the England under-20 international’s talents during his time in charge of the academy and reserve teams at Chelsea, was naturally delighted to secure one of his top transfer targets. Swansea have been in dire need of some attacking reinforcements and the new manager is confident Sinclair is the perfect player to help bring a renewed cutting edge up front.

“Scott is obviously a player I know well and I am delighted to sign him,” he explained. “It’s a massive coup for us because he is a big talent and has been a sought after player since he broke on to the scene.

“As far as I am concerned, there’s no better place for him than Swansea City. With this group of players, style of football, fantastic fans and a manager who knows him well, this will be a great club for his development.

“He is only 21 and still has big potential. I think this will be a good home for him, where he can come and play and realise that full potential because I know what he is capable of.

“He is a great signing for the present and the future and joins a group of exciting young players that includes the likes Joe Allen, David Cotterill and Nathan Dyer.”

Adamant Sinclair’s transfer would quickly prove to be money well spent, Swans chairman Huw Jenkins, added: “While everyone is aware that we run a tight ship here financially, we will always invest in the team when funds are available. I think this signing highlights our intent.

“It is also the club’s priority to invest in bright, young talent wherever possible – and I don’t think you will find many young players with the talent that Scott possesses. We have been fortunate that he has worked closely with Brendan in the past. Brendan was one of the attractions for Scott, but there was also the style of football we play and the fantastic playing surface we have here at the Liberty Stadium.

“I’m sure our supporters will be excited about Scott joining us and watching him perform in a Swans shirt.”

Having sealed Sinclair’s arrival, Rodgers will now turn his attention to finding a new striker. Following on from Ipswich’s Hungarian international Tamas Priskin and Watford striker Danny Graham, Hull forward Caleb Folan is the latest name being linked with a move to South Wales.

DARREN PRATLEY’S contract negotiations with Swansea City have broken down and the influential midfielder could now leave the club on a free transfer next summer.

Pratley, who remains fully committed to giving 100 per cent for the Swans during the upcoming season, held crunch talks with the club yesterday.

A deal could not be brokered though and it is understood negotiations are unlikely to continue at this point.

The Swans now face a similar dilemma to the one they had with former fans’ favourite Leon Britton last year. After failing to agree fresh terms, the club decided not to cash in on Britton and, like the situation bitter rivals Cardiff City had with Wales midfielder Joe Ledley, lost him for nothing when his contract expired on June 30.

Pratley, who joined Swansea in a £100,000 deal from Fulham in 2006, has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs this summer. Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur even claimed at the weekend the 25-year-old wanted to join the Reds.

Swansea have already rejected a bid, thought to be in the region of £1m, from Forest. But now they must decide whether their interests would be best served selling the player now and reinvesting in his replacement or keeping him for the final year of his contract to boost their promotion chances.

The Western Mail understands that Pratley has no intention of trying to force a move away from the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea could break their transfer fee record after signing ex-England youth star Scott Sinclair from Premier League champions Chelsea on a three-year deal.

The initial fee for Sinclair is £500,000 and could rise to £1m.

Swans boss Brendan Rodgers was Chelsea youth and reserve manager as Sinclair rose through the ranks.

"It's a massive coup for us because he is a big talent and has been a sought after player since he broke on to the scene," Rodgers told Swansea's website.

"As far as I am concerned, there's no better place for him than Swansea City.

"With this group of players, style of football, fantastic fans and a manager who knows him well, this will be a great club for his development.

"He is only 21 and still has big potential. I think this will be a good home for him, where he can come and play and realise that full potential because I know what he is capable of.

"He is a great signing for the present and the future and joins a group of exciting young players that includes the likes Joe Allen, David Cotterill and Nathan Dyer.''

The add-ons that could make Sinclair the club's first £1m signing depend on how the club fare during Sinclair's stay.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: "While everyone is aware that we run a tight ship here financially, we will always invest in the team when funds are available. I think this signing highlights our intent.

"It is also the club's priority to invest in bright, young talent wherever possible - and I don't think you will find many young players with the talent that Scott possesses.

"We have been fortunate that he has worked closely with Brendan in the past.

"Brendan was one of the attractions for Scott, but there was also the style of football we play and the fantastic playing surface we have here at the Liberty Stadium.

"I'm sure our supporters will be excited about Scott joining us and watching him perform in a Swans shirt.''

However, Sinclair cannot make his Carling Cup first round debut against Barnet on Tuesday when Swansea will bid to to bounce back from their opening day 2-0 Championship defeat at Hull.

The signing has yet to gain Football League and Premier League clearance.

Sinclair, who has spent time on loan at Wigan, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Charlton, QPR and Plymouth, was one of three players being targeted.

The Bath-born player, who has represented England at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, has been at Chelsea since 2005.

Swansea have already signed Wrexham left-back Neil Taylor and Aldershot midfielder Scott Donnelly this summer.

After their defeat at KC Stadium, Rodgers said: "Scott's a wonderful player."

Rodgers has also targeted ex-Dutch Under-21 international Kemy Agustien, a trialist injured in a Swans' pre-season game.

In an earlier interview, Rodgers said: "There's one or two things that we're looking at.

"This is a squad that isn't going to need major surgery as long as I keep the squad I want to keep here and then add just one or two to it."

We need to have that mutual ruthlessness in the opponents box

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers
Sinclair signed for Chelsea in November 2005 when a tribunal awarded Bristol Rovers compensation of up to a potential £750,000 - and the Premier League giants will also have to pay Bristol Rovers 15% of any sell-on profit.

Sinclair is renowned for scoring wonder goals and his individual half-the-length-of-the-field run and strike for Plymouth in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Barnet in 2007 is one of greatest recent cup goals.

Sinclair, who signed a four year deal at Chelsea in August 2007, scored his first senior goal at Hull in a 4-0 win against Hull in the Carling Cup and played five games for the top-flight giants.

Rodgers hopes Sinclair will help rectify Swansea's long-standing goal-scoring problems.

"We need to have that mutual ruthlessness in the opponents box," said Rodgers.

"It's an area we need to add to as strikers, but the wide players need to contribute to goals as well. We play some wonderful stuff - we just need to get that finishing touch."

NOTTINGHAM Forest have claimed that Darren Pratley wants to join them from Swansea City. The midfielder has been a target for Forest since January and has not spoken about his future this summer.

Swansea claimed last week that Pratley was close to extending his contract, with his current deal due to expire at the end of this season.

But Forest chief executive Mark Arthur said: "They (Swansea) don't want to lose their best player.

"They've offered him a new contract and apparently he (Pratley) has turned it down and again we understand he is very keen to come and play for us.

"Swansea have to make a decision. This time last year they went blind with Leon Britton and he ran down his contract and do they want to do exactly the same with Darren Pratley? Only Swansea can answer that."

In an outspoken interview, Arthur also claimed that Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham wants to join Billy Davies's Reds. Asked how he knew the opinions of the players involved, he added: "I've been told.

"We're hopeful and what we do know is the players we've identified want to play for Nottingham Forest.

"That is the encouraging thing. It is just a case of prising them out."

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, meantime, says Angel Rangel is nursing a thigh injury after the Blackpool target pulled out of Saturday's defeat at Hull just minutes before kick-off.

"He had a niggle in Holland which he felt last Thursday, but then he felt better on Friday," Rodgers said.

"He felt it again in the warm-up and I had a decision to make. Angel is a good pro — he has respect for the club and his team-mates.

"He felt better so I named him in the team, but it wasn't to be. It's just unfortunate."

NIGEL Pearson reckoned John Bostock was the difference as the new Hull City manager enjoyed another opening-day win over Swansea City on Saturday.

Pearson's Leicester side beat Swansea 2-1 at the Walkers Stadium in the first game of 2009-10.

And the former Middlesbrough defender emerged victorious once again this weekend thanks largely to Bostock, the talented Spurs youngster whose loan move to the KC Stadium was only rubber-stamped on Friday afternoon.

"I thought Jon did very well," Pearson said.

"I don't like players getting booked for taking their shirts off, but I understand how excited he was.

"Players who can produce that type of brilliance are going to win you games and I thought he was the difference in many ways.

"I think he will be an important player for us — he is young, talented and has no fear.

"I don't want to build him up too much, but I think he can have a significant influence."

In what was a sign of the times at Hull, Pearson had to thank a number of clubs for allowing the Bostock deal to happen.

He was not talking about parent-club Spurs, but the various sides Hull owe money to but who agreed restructured payments at the back end of last week.

Only with those agreements in place were Hull allowed to complete the signing of Bostock, who had already been training with the Humberside club.

Pearson reckoned his team had been worth three points against Swansea based on their attacking threat.

"I thought we had the better chances," he said.

"I'm sure the stats will say they had a lot of possession, but they didn't really cause us problems.

"It was a technical game. We knew they would play it out from the back and I'm pleased our players showed the discipline to stick to our gameplan.

"It was tough for us because we are struggling a bit with numbers up front, so it's a good result for us."

Pearson, who led Leicester to the play-offs last season, reckons the Championship will be even more unpredictable this season.

"I think it's going to be very, very tight," he added. "Last year there were a couple of stand-out teams, but I don't think it is the same this time."

HULL City striker Caleb Folan has emerged as a target for Brendan Rodgers as the new Swansea City boss prepares to make Scott Sinclair his first signing.

Swansea hope to unveil Sinclair some time this week after agreeing a deal which could eventually be worth more than £1 million for the winger with Chelsea.

And the former England Under-20 man could be followed by Republic of Ireland international Folan.

Cash-strapped

The 27-year-old sat out Swansea's 2-0 defeat at Hull this weekend amid suggestions that the cash-strapped Tigers are looking to offload him.

And it is believed Rodgers met Folan for talks over a possible move to the Liberty prior to Saturday's game.

The 6ft 2in frontman has played in the Premier League for Hull and Wigan Athletic after making his name at Chesterfield.

Then Wigan boss Paul Jewell paid £500,000 for Folan in January 2007 before he moved on to Hull in a £1 million deal later that year.

He has scored 12 goals in 31 starts for Hull, but fell out with former boss Phil Brown last season and has been tipped for a move ever since.

He is one of a clutch of Championship strikers Rodgers is considering as he attempts to bring some much-needed firepower to the Swansea squad.

Sinclair should help, and Ashley Williams has welcomed Swansea's bold transfer policy after a disappointing opening-day reverse at the KC Stadium.

"I'd like to see as many quality players coming into Swansea as possible," said the Wales defender.

"We would welcome Scott Sinclair with open arms if the deal happens.

Everyone has seen the potential he has got and hopefully he can do the same sort of job for us as (John) Bostock did for Hull on Saturday.

"No disrespect at all to the strikers we have got, but it would be nice to see that area freshened up as well.

"In fact, it would be good to see extra competition all over the pitch — it would be good for the team to have extra players in every department.

"Obviously it's up to the gaffer who he brings in, but for me it's a case of the more quality players we get in the merrier."

Swansea's defeat at Hull followed a familiar pattern, with Williams and Co controlling the ball for long periods but failing to make possession count.

"We dominate games — we have done against Portsmouth, Fulham, Birmingham and others in the last couple of seasons," he added.

"But we just need to find a way of turning that domination into goals.

Hopefully that's something that will come very soon."

While Williams heads off on international duty with a batch of under-21 players, Swansea will attempt to get their season up and running when Barnet visit the Liberty in round one of the Carling Cup tomorrow night.

Joe Allen could feature after missing Hull following shoulder surgery in the summer as Rodgers takes charge of a competitive fixture on home soil for the first time.

Tickets for the game are priced only £10 with some concession prices as low as £1.

Former Swansea striker Jason Scotland, meantime, is being tipped to join Ipswich from Wigan Athletic.

BRENDAN Rodgers is yet to make his first Swansea City signing, but already there is evidence that he has an eye for a player.

Hull City's John Bostock was the stand-out performer as Swansea opened up another campaign with defeat.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Rodgers thought the England Under-19 star might have been changing in the away dressing room on Saturday afternoon.

"I have known John for a long time," the Swansea manager explained.

"I had communication with Tottenham about the possibility of taking him in and there was no problem.

"I then spoke to his agent just before we went out to Holland, when John was away with the England set-up.

"The agent was going to ring me when we got back from Holland to see what we could sort out, but while we were away I got a call saying he had gone to Hull."

Shame. Bostock looked a class act this weekend, the 18-year-old marking his Championship debut with a fabulous 30-yard drive which disappeared beyond Dorus de Vries and into the top corner.

"You will not see many better goals all season," Rodgers pointed out.

Swansea fans have become used to not seeing any goals, spectacular or otherwise.

Rodgers is desperate to change all that but, on the evidence of his first competitive game at the helm, there is still work to do.

On the first day of the newly-named npower Championship, Swansea were short of a spark.

They controlled possession for long periods of the game and were the better side before Bostock struck.

But despite Rodgers's demand that his players push on more than they did under his predecessor, there was little sign of a goal.

"We have got a great squad," he said. "We just need to find that formula that allows us to turn a lot of our good play into goals.

"That's something the club were looking at before I came in and it's something we need to address. We controlled big parts of the game, but we all know it's about what happens in both boxes."

Goals have been an issue ever since Roberto Martinez departed for Wigan and took Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez with him.

Rodgers is now the man charged with reviving Swansea in the final third, and he hopes to take a step in the right direction by unveiling Scott Sinclair this week.

The Chelsea youngster looks to have the right credentials, and his signing would be quite a coup for Swansea's new boss.

If Rodgers has his way, that will not be the end of his transfer work.

As well as Kemy Agustien, the talented Dutch midfield man who should sign soon, Swansea are in the market for a centre-forward.

And all the indications are that they are prepared to stump up a chunk of cash to land the new striker, with Hull's Caleb Folan the latest name to be linked.

"The core of this squad is good, but if we can add two offensive players (plus Agustien) we will have a really good core," Rodgers said.

Signing players like Sinclair and Folan ought to convince some of those already on the books, like Darren Pratley, that they would be wise to stick around.

Sinclair would be a marquee recruit, a player whose arrival would be a statement of intent.

"There's no doubt that we need to improve our penetration at the top end of the field," added Rodgers, hammering home the point.

Swansea's best chance at Hull fell to Pratley, but his diving header sailed beyond the far post.

Last season's top scorer saw another header hacked out from under the bar, while David Cotterill's free-kick hit the bar and substitutes Shefki Kuqi and Gorka Pintado both fired wide late on.

"I will work with the players we have every day, but there's no magic formula," Rodgers said.

"If you have not scored goals regularly for three or four years, sometimes that's difficult. I am a coach, not a magician — but we will progress."

Nigel Pearson's Hull showed Swansea the way, rattling up a couple of goals despite never holding the contest by the scruff of the neck.

After Bostock's brilliance came a scrappy set-piece goal which rankled with Swansea and all but ended hopes of a positive result.

"It's a hard one to describe," de Vries said. "I couldn't reach the corner, Garry Monk got a flick on it, it hit their guy on the face and then it hit me in the face. Then it fell right to Ian Ashbee."

The Hull skipper, back after 15 months out with knee problems, lashed home from close range and Swansea were left to digest their fifth successive opening-day loss.

"It's disappointing," de Vries added.

"But this my fourth season at the club and we haven't won any of our opening games.

"We have always had a bad start, but in the end the seasons have always brought some better things at the end.

"Hopefully it will be the same again this year."

Welsh pair blast back at Forest over Whittingham and Pratley jibe

SWANSEA CITY and Cardiff City have put on a rare united front after Nottingham Forest chief executive Mark Arthur claimed two of the Welsh rivals’ star players wanted to join the Reds.

In an astonishing radio interview, Arthur insisted both Bluebirds winger Peter Whittingham and Swans midfielder Darren Pratley – the two clubs’ respective top scorers last season – had rejected new contract offers because they wanted to join Championship rivals Forest.

The Midlands outfit have had bids for the pair, each understood to be in the region of £1m, rejected, but Arthur claimed he had been told they both wanted to move to the City Ground and said it was “just a case of prising them out”.

Cardiff and Swansea have reacted furiously with Swans chairman Huw Jenkins saying his club would “take a stand” after such a public admission that Forest had effectively been tapping up Pratley.

And Cardiff chief executive Gethin Jenkins described Arthur’s comments as a “blatant public attempt” to unsettle Whittingham.

“I would like to thank Mr Arthur for his interest in our club, though would suggest that he direct his attention towards internal Nottingham Forest issues and problems than any blatant public attempts to unsettle members of our playing squad,” said Gethin Jenkins.

“We have already stated that we are intent on holding on to our best players in order to remain competitive in the Championship.

“Positive talks continue with Peter, as they do with other members of our squad, while we concentrate on starting the 2010-11 Championship season.”

While Huw Jenkins feels Arthur’s comments represent a serious breach of Football League rules regarding player transfers, they would also seem to be wide of the mark.

The Western Mail understands that Pratley has not rejected his new deal and negotiations are still on-going.

Urging the authorities to take a hard line on any illegal approaches, the Swans will now consider their next move.

And, making it clear they would not be bullied into selling any player on the cheap, Jenkins said the club would not take such blatant disregard lying down.

“It’s complete rubbish and we will have to discuss whether we take action,” he said, in reference to the comments regarding Pratley.

“Someone has to take a stand against this sort of thing. When someone is that blatant, we have to stand up for ourselves.

“Perhaps Forest think we are a small club and, because they won some trophies a few decades ago, they can walk all over us.

“I can assure everyone that is not the case. We will only sell a player when the deal is right for us.

“I just can’t understand why the authorities are not stronger about this. Legally, the only time a player can talk to other clubs is if we accept an offer.

“It makes you wonder what contracts are for nowadays. If a player wants to leave should we just rip up his contract?

“This sort of thing takes us down a route no-one wants. There’s no stability for anyone, especially not players, if contracts become meaningless.”

Asked if he thought this was a case of Forest tapping up Pratley, the Swans chairman responded: “That’s exactly what it is. We know these things go on behind closed doors, and it’s not right, but for someone to come out and more or less confirm it is very alarming.

“It’s just a tactic to try and unsettle the player. They don’t want him to perform for us so that, in the end, we decide to give Darren away for nothing.

“But we don’t work that way and we won’t be bullied. If a player has a contract, they are our player until we decide otherwise.

“Forest have to pay us what we think Darren is worth, not what they want to pay.

“If you want to buy a house you don’t go in, offer half the asking price and expect to have it accepted.”

Jenkins said he was especially disappointed as Swansea have had very positive relations with Forest in recent years.

“He (Arthur) is a quite highly-regarded part of the Football League set-up and is always on different committees and panels,” he added.

“So he knows the rules and regulations better than most.”

ANGEL RANGEL insisted his absence from Swansea City’s opening day defeat to Hull had nothing to do with the continued speculation surrounding his future at the club.

Rangel, who has been the subject of two separate bids from Premiership newcomers Blackpool, was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s clash at the KC Stadium.

Having initially been named in the Swans starting XI, the Spaniard was nowhere to be seen when Brendan Rodgers’ men ran out for kick-off.

Inevitably that led to question marks over whether the in-demand right-back had refused to play. But, after suffering with a thigh injury all week, Rangel made it clear that wasn’t the case.

“It was just a precaution because of my injury,” he told the Western Mail. “That is the only reason I didn’t play.

“It has been a hard week, I didn’t train on Thursday. Friday I was pretty tired and I agreed with the gaffer that, if it was OK in the warm-up, I would play but, if not, it wasn’t worth risking a much worse injury. If you risk it with an injury like that, you could be out for months.

“We have a very long way to go this season. I thought it would be stupid to risk it for one game and then be out for a long time. Hopefully it will be fine in a few days and I will play next Saturday.

“It’s nothing serious, we just needed to be careful.”

Rangel’s claims were quickly backed up by his manager. Rodgers was asked if the defender’s absence was anything to do with him not wanting to jeopardise a potential move to the Premiership, but he quickly played down such suggestions.

“Someone asked me if that was the case but I wouldn’t do that and I don’t think Angel would,” the Swans boss responded.

“I’ve only been here a short time but I have already assessed him as a good professional with respect for club and teammates.

“It was a risk to include him in the starting XI and I understood that.

“I thought we could get something out of him but it wasn’t to be.

“It was just unfortunate.”

SWANSEA CITY may have a new manager, new belief and a new attacking philosophy but, after an all too familiar story at Hull, it’s new signings that will make the difference.

With plenty of possession and nothing to show for it, you could forgive any Swans fans that weren’t at the KC Stadium for thinking one season had rolled into the next.

And, as the club’s trend of opening day defeats moved into its fifth successive year, the ones that were in attendance had more than one reason to think they had been down this road before.

Much like last season, chances were few and far between for the men in white.

They were duly punished for failing to take them too as a wonder goal from John Bostock, a man the Swans tried to sign, and an error from keeper Dorus de Vries ensured Brendan Rodgers’ first league game in charge ended in defeat.

There was a clear difference as the visitors went about their business, though.

Rodgers has repeatedly stressed the need for a greater emphasis on attack and, with the wingers staying high up the pitch and plenty of men getting into the box it was there for all to see.

The problem for the new manager is that it’s not just a change of attitude that is required. A change in personnel is also a must.

A simple look at Rodgers’ options when his team went 2-0 down tells its own story.

On came Shefki Kuqi and Gorka Pintado, a strike partnership that scored just seven goals between them last season, and the need for attacking reinforcements was more apparent than ever.

Fortunately, Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair is expected to sign today and Swansea are exploring several options when it comes to a new striker.

Rodgers insists he will continue to work with what he has got but even he knows it will take money to get Swansea finding the net on a regular basis.

“I will work with the players every day but there’s no magic formula,” he said as he navigated questions surrounding his team’s attacking plight.

“If you haven’t scored goals for three or four years it’s difficult.

“I’m a coach, not a magician. But I do know they give their all and because of that we will progress and move forward.

“It’s going to take a wee bit of time, but the players are working hard. This was always a tough ask. There’s no doubt the penetration at the top end of the field is where we need to improve.

“But what I enjoy about this bunch is that they will keep fighting back and not quit.

“If we can get people in before the end of window, on top of the core we have, we can look to finish in the top 10, which would be a terrific season again.”

Rodgers is not the only person who thinks the Swans need fresh faces. In fact, it’s a view almost everyone involved with the club shares.

It was certainly the message from the players as they reflected on this defeat.

As defender Ashley Williams put it, the sooner reinforcements arrive, the better.

“I don’t know how many players are coming in but we definitely need it,” he said.

“I’m not sure if other people will agree but, me personally, I think we need to freshen things up.

“The squad isn’t where you would want it to be. It has been a tough summer for us.

“Some new faces would give the squad a boost. Looking at this game and last season, we need to freshen certain areas up.

“It’s good to see the Scott Sinclair deal is likely to happen. We will certainly welcome him in because we need the sort of player that creates a moment of magic out of nothing.

“That’s what we are lacking at the moment. We need someone that can do what Bostock did to us.”

Bostock’s sensational strike was certainly an apt reminder of precisely what the Swans are missing.

With the two teams evenly-matched but Swansea slightly on top after David Cotterill’s 21st-minute free-kick hit the bar, the Tottenham loanee picked up the ball 30 yards out, expertly turned Jordi Lopez and smashed an unstoppable shot past de Vries.

It was a moment of pure class, something Swansea could not match, exemplified when an unmarked Darren Pratley failed to make the most of Mark Gower’s excellent cross on the half-hour mark.

Rodgers’ men didn’t deserve to be behind but in football you don’t get always get what you deserve.

The Swans’ new-found attacking intent continued straight after half-time as they took the game to the Tigers.

But they were soon left deflated as Hull skipper Ian Ashbee marked his first start in 15 months with a goal.

If the hosts’ opener was unpreventable, their second was anything but.

Richard Garcia whipped in a corner and, as de Vries flapped and missed the ball, Ashbee stayed composed to volley home from close range.

The goal clearly rocked Swansea and, without a real spark from the bench, they never really looked like getting back into it.

A Pratley header was cleared off the line by Anthony Gardner but, apart from that, a third Hull goal looked more likely in the closing stages.

It was a disappointing start for Rodgers but, as Williams pointed out, there’s certainly no need for doom and gloom.

The key now, for all involved, is making sure the “same old, same old” mindset doesn’t creep in.

“I would rather have played badly and lost because I just didn’t want it to be a repeat of last season,” the Wales international explained.

“We don’t want to go down that road and I know everyone will be talking about how it’s the same old Swansea story – pretty but with no killer instinct.

“That’s a shame because we have worked hard and we are looking better. We are a lot more attack-minded this season.

“I’m sure people will be panicking and going crazy, as they usually do.

“But we just have to stay professional and make sure we don’t hit the panic button ourselves.

“We just need to be a bit more creative and that will come.

“We have to remain positive because, as the gaffer said, if we keep playing like that we won’t lose too many games.”

Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers says he hopes to complete a deal for Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair.

The England Under-20 star played under Rodgers when he was youth and reserve team boss at Stamford Bridge.

Sinclair, 21, who has spent time on loan at Wigan, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Charlton, QPR and Plymouth, is one of three players being targeted.

"We've spoken to Chelsea and we hope to tie something up very soon with Scott," Rodgers told BBC Sport.

"There's one or two things that we're looking at. This is a squad that isn't going to need major surgery as long as I keep the squad I want to keep here and then add just one or two to it.

"One of those is injured but we hope to complete a deal with him, one we hope will be completed in the next 48 hours and one will probably happen before the end of the transfer window.

"All in all, I'm happy with the group that's here."

It appears that Sinclair is the one who will arrive the soonest out of those mentioned, and possibly in time for Saturday's season opener at newly-relegated Hull City.

Trialist Kemy Agustien is the injured player mentioned as Rodgers has previously said he wants to sign the former Dutch Under-21 international.

But Rodgers is confident in the squad he has already going into the first game of the season.

"I've got a great bunch of players," he added. "If we keep the spirit that we have and continue to develop that, and keep hold of the group then you never know where that will take us.

"We are looking to go all guns blazing and look to make a good start.

"Hull is going to be a difficult game. "The opening couple of games are difficult because they are the first competitive ones and you are obviously a bit more tense.

"But this is a league where every game is going to be very close and very tough."

Swans could be Premier League in next three years, claims Brendan Rogers


BRENDAN Rodgers has set the top 10 as Swansea City's initial target ahead of tomorrow's Championship opener at Hull City.

Rodgers leads Swansea in a competitive game for the first time at the KC Stadium.

And the former Watford and Reading boss has declared his new club could be in the Premier League inside three years.

"If you have quality, which we have, and you have a strong mentality as a group, which we have, you have the keys to doing well," Rodgers said.

"Then you need to believe, and I will work every day and night to make sure this group believe.

"They are a very, very good bunch of players and I believe that if we keep pushing over the next two or three seasons, the dream of Swansea getting to the Premier League is a very real one — although not an easy one, of course.

"This season we will try to give our maximum in every single game and, if we can do that, I feel it will take us quite a long way.

"Our ambition is to be up and around where we were [last season]. I think the minimum we would want is top 10 — that would be a terrific season for us again.

"But obviously we're all ambitious. Players, supporters, media — we all want to go further, but we will have to see how things develop."

Swansea are 12-1 shots — just below halfway in the list — with bookies to win promotion, and 10-1 to go down.

Middlesbrough and Burnley, two sides with recent Premier League experience, are the favourites to climb out of the division — but Rodgers reckons the second tier is wide open.

"There are a lot of big clubs in the division but I think it will be close," he added.

"There are players coming down from the Premier League and clubs spending a lot of money, but I think we have as good a chance as anyone.

"There will be hiccups along the way, but it's a question of how you respond when they come."

Stephen Dobbie (knee) and Angel Rangel (leg) missed training yesterday but both are expected to be fit for selection at Hull. Craig Beattie (calf), Tom Butler (thigh) and Joe Allen (shoulder) all sit out along with Kemy Agustien, who is not yet a Swansea player but would have been by now had he not damaged knee ligaments last weekend.

The injury problems mean Jordi Lopez could get a chance to impress in central midfield, while Albert Serran is tipped to start at right-back amid continuing uncertainty over Rangel's Swansea future. Hull have fitness problems of their own as they begin life back in the Championship following relegation from the top flight, with the likes of Craig Fagan and James Harper absent.

"They have a good manager, a good group of players and resources for the next few years," Rodgers said.

"But we go there looking to dominate the game and to win. That will always be our way."

Around 1,200 Swans fans are expected to make the long trip to East Riding.

SWANSEA City are waiting to discover whether their ambitious bid for Chelsea's Scott Sinclair will come off.

Swansea have identified the 21-year-old as the man to offer them extra pace out wide.

But a clutch of clubs including Ipswich, Bristol City and Premier League new boys Blackpool are also chasing Sinclair.

Swansea's trump card is Brendan Rodgers, who worked with the player during his time at Stamford Bridge.

"We have had a number of offers for players turned down," the Swansea manager revealed.

"But we hope to get a striker in before the window closes and we hope to know about the wide player in the next 24 or 48 hours.

"That will be an exciting one if we can do it."

The wide player Rodgers refers to is understood to be Sinclair.

He is also targeting more than one Championship centre-forward, while a new full-back may yet be on the agenda if Angel Rangel departs.

For now the Spaniard remains part of Swansea's plans, although he may not start at Hull tomorrow.

"Angel is a Swansea player for now," Rodgers added.

"There have been bids from Blackpool and they are keen on him, but he has a smile on his face and he's working well. He is committed and available and that's a big positive because he is a terrific player."

Rodgers, meantime, has confirmed that he is no longer in the hunt for a midfielder as Kemy Agustien is due to sign.

Swansea are still waiting to discover the full extent of the trialist's knee injury, but there are suggestions that he could be sidelined for weeks rather than months.

"It's a medial ligament which is not good, but the good news is that he won't be out for as long as we first feared," Rodgers said.

Rodgers aiming to prove himself with mixture of hard work and success

BRENDAN Rodgers was "a little skinny rat" of a lad when he first set foot in Swansea.

He has fond memories of the visit, made with Northern Ireland schoolboys for a game against their Welsh counterparts at Vetch Field.

"It was '87 or maybe '88," Swansea City's new manager recalls.

"Wales had players like Jason Bowen, Andy Legg and Lee Congerton, who is now one of the head scouts at Chelsea and went on to become a really good friend of mine.

"They weren't very happy with me because we won 4-3. In an eventful game, I set up the first goal, brought someone down for a penalty and then, with the last kick, I scored the winner.

"I was happy with that. It was nice because it was the first time my father had travelled to watch me play.

"That was my first experience of Swansea and I still remember going to the Vetch and then afterwards taking the short bus ride across to the civic centre.

"Apart from that my only time in Swansea was coming into the (Liberty) stadium and then going away again.

"So it was a bit of a déjà vu moment a couple of weeks ago when I was driving down towards Mumbles.

"I saw the civic centre and I spoke to Curt (Alan Curtis) all about the Vetch. It took me back to many years ago."

That first trip to Swansea is one of an agonisingly short list of career highlights for Rodgers the player.

Having started off back home with Ballymena United, he joined Reading as a teenager full of hope.

But by the age of 20, a hereditary knee condition meant Rodgers had to hang up his boots.

"One of my brothers was an apprentice as well and I at least lasted four years as an apprentice and a professional," he says.

"My brother had only six months. The bone in the knee should be stable, but with us it crumbled after repetitive training."

His dreams of being a big-name pro dashed, Rodgers refused to give up on a career in football.

"I could have gone on for years playing semi-pro, but that wasn't for me," he continues.

"I played a little bit to keep ticking over, but I went on a coaching course and realised the next biggest thing after playing is coaching.

"I set out on my journey on a Friday night at a school, doing my first match. Since then, I have devoted my life to it."

So at the ripe old age of 37, Rodgers has already been coaching for a decade and a half.

He is a youngster, in managerial terms, with the experience of a relative veteran.

"I think I've had time to develop," he says. "Some players have careers until they are 35 and then they have to step straight into management.

"I have a big respect for the players who do that because it is not easy, but I was fortunate that I made a decision to try coaching a long time ago.

"It was a gut feeling. I felt that I could motivate people and coach people and I have had a brilliant journey already.

"I have worked with some great managers — Steve Coppell, Alan Pardew, Tommy Burns, God rest his soul, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Jose Mourinho.

"I have been very fortunate to have those experiences, and then obviously I add in my own style.

"I have never had the protection of a big career in football, so I've had to prove myself all the time.

"That's inherent in me now — I never become complacent. I've needed to prove myself alongside big managers and big coaches and, thankfully, I've had people who have trusted my work and given me positions of responsibility.

"Eventually I got the chance to go out on my own."

Rodgers began life as the No. 1 at Watford, doing so well so quickly at Vicarage Road that Reading stumped up £500,000 to take him to the Madejski Stadium this time last year.

Experience

But things did not work out with the Royals, Rodgers struggling to implement his style and leaving after only half a season in charge.

"Swansea is a new challenge for me and it comes off the back of what wasn't a great experience," he adds.

"But in my last 15 years as a coach and manager, it's my only black spot. Every manager has those moments and I have learned from it — Swansea have a better manager now because of that experience."

An upbeat character, Rodgers explains that he has settled in to Swansea life with ease, suggesting he and the club go together like hand and glove.

He is still looking for somewhere to set up home, but help is at hand as a result of an uncle who had a spell living in Swansea.

"He went back to Northern Ireland but his family have been in the city all their lives," Rodgers says. "When I got the job, my cousin Michael was straight on the phone.

''He lives five minutes from the Liberty.

"Swansea's a lovely area and I'm looking forward to getting my wife and daughter down here with me. My son is at Chelsea (in the academy) so he stays in London, but he will look to come down as much as he can.

"This is a really happy moment for us as a family, but of course my job is to keep the club moving forward."

Can he do that? Can a club who have punched above their weight in the last couple of seasons continue to turn heads?

Rodgers thinks so.

Progress

"This club has taken a number of steps forward in the past four or five years, but we want to make sure that continual progress carries on," he says.

"I am ambitious but also realistic. We are a club who probably sit in the middle of the table in terms of budget, maybe mid to lower end.

"That's fine with me. It's going to test my managerial skills and my coaching skills, but I'm happy with that because the players I have here are hungry.

"The board upstairs are terrific. They manage the club with good business sense and, in the modern football world, that's not a bad attitude to have.

"The fanbase is strong — I saw that in Holland — and there's a good feeling about this club.

"I'm very confident we can keep that going."

On the eve of the new Championship season, optimism reigns courtesy of Swansea's new king.

After triumph at the Vetch, Rodgers expects more success at the Liberty.

HULL City boss Nigel Pearson reckons the Championship promotion race will be wide open this season.

After guiding Leicester City to the play-offs last season, Pearson plans to take new club Hull back to the big time following their relegation from the Premier League in May.

Hull, who host Swansea City in their opening game tomorrow, are among a number of contenders expected to be in the promotion mix despite some recent financial fears. But Pearson agrees with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins's recent comments and believes the quality of teams pushing for a ticket to the top flight makes the Championship impossible to predict.

Favourites

"People will have said last year that Newcastle and West Brom were favourites and that's the way it turned out," said Pearson.

"Outside of that you were looking at a multitude of clubs who would have thought they had a chance.

"It's much less clear-cut than last year up at the top.

"This year is similar in some ways but possibly not as dominant over who will be the top two — that's an added incentive for everyone involved this year.

"It'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

"Consistency is very difficult to achieve at this level but if you get that you'll always have a chance."

Swansea face Pearson on the opening day of the campaign for the second consecutive season when they go to the KC Stadium tomorrow.

Repercussions

Last year, Swansea were beaten 2-1 at Leicester, then bossed by Pearson.

His summer switch to Hull had repercussions at Swansea, with Paulo Sousa heading to the Walkers Stadium.

And the former Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough defender forecasts a closely-fought campaign for both clubs.

"The expectation will be on us to go out there and get a win but it will be typical of the Championship this year.

"There will be a lot of tough games and a lot of the teams in the division will go into the season thinking they've got a realistic chance of promotion. We're one of those teams."

DAVID Cotterill has pointed to Swansea City's pursuit of Scott Sinclair as a sign of the club's ambition.

Swansea have been linked with a club record fee that would exceed the £1 million mark for the 21-year-old, and are hoping the Chelsea winger will opt to try his luck in the Championship.

Sinclair, also being targeted by Premier League side Blackpool, has worked with Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers during his time as youth and reserve coach at Stamford Bridge.

Cotterill, too, is well aware of the Bath product's quality, having broken into the Bristol City team around the same time Sinclair was handed his debut at city rivals Rovers.

And Cotterill feels the fact Swansea are in contact with the Premier League champions underlines their ambition this season.

"When I was at Bristol City I heard a lot about him when he was coming through at Bristol Rovers," said Cotterill, whose wife Sasha gave birth to their second child on Tuesday.

"He went to Chelsea, and that showed how much quality he has. He's been out on loan at a few clubs and he's played very well at each one, which means he is a wanted man now.

"The fee that has been mentioned in the paper shows that our chairman is willing to push on this year, and that's great news.

"If we bring in a player of his quality then it will benefit us hugely. Competition will be stronger and I'm sure he would strengthen our squad."

Cotterill admits the squad has been doing everything possible to impress Brendan Rodgers.

And he said the new boss has already made a huge impression on the Swansea players.

"He has laid down his marker and it's up to us to achieve our targets," added Cotterill.

"Training has been excellent and his links at Chelsea could prove favourable for us, particularly with Scott.

"He knows where we need strengthening, and if he does utilise his links then we will really benefit. The players here have already been impressed with him, and we're looking forward to playing under him when the Championship starts."

On the eve of the Football League season, Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers speaks to Football Correspondent CHRIS WATHAN about the life-changing moments that led him to the Liberty Stadium

IF a week is a long time in football, a year is a lifetime.

Twelve months ago, Brendan Rodgers was touted as one of the hottest managerial properties around, worth up to £1m in the eyes of Championship chairmen and destined for the top. He could do no wrong.

By January 2010, everything had changed.

And so began a period that Rodgers believes has taught him some huge life lessons.

After all, losing your job is one thing; losing a loved one is quite another.

“About a month after leaving Reading, my mother passed away,” explained the 37-year-old. “As you can imagine, that was very hard, very difficult to take.

“She had been a big supporter of mine and, like many are, we were a very close family.

“It’s difficult to accept, but it was a time for reflection

“And now I sit back and look at it, it was one of the hardest but also one of the most learned periods in my life because I had two massive voids that I had to deal with; my first time out of football and obviously the loss of my mother.”

Christina was in her 50s when she died suddenly, clearly a far bigger shock to the system for Rodgers than any footballing fall from grace suffered during his time at the Madejski.

Yet the Ulsterman does not underplay the significance of losing his way at Reading, the club he walked out on Watford for. As you would expect from someone who worked so closely with Jose Mourinho, failing was not something considered in the grand plan.

“I don’t regret going to Reading but I do regret the way things went there,” he says of his return to the Royals, a club he started his playing days with as a teenage winger from County Antrim.

“It was the early stages of my career and I wanted to build something at Watford, I wanted to be there for four, five years to learn the ropes, feel the pain of the ups and the downs because I know that’s part of life.

“My heart took me to Reading, but again I thought about building, of the challenge of going in after a successful era ended and trying to go again.

“It was a club I felt I knew and where the board would know how I would work.

“In the end we had a mismatch. The supporters were brilliant, the players gave me everything, but I just didn’t have the time to put in place what I wanted to. ”

Regardless of hows and whys, it left Rodgers picking up the pieces of a tattered reputation.

But rather than shake his beliefs in how he approaches the game, it seems to have steeled them. Rather than checking his ambitions, Rodgers seems to have raised them having been offered the chance to replace Paulo Sousa last month after his time out.

And it all stems from a decision he took aged just 20.

A hereditary problem in the knee didn’t prevent Rodgers from playing again, but it did limit his chances of being anything more than a journeyman.

It’s clear, today as then, the relative rookie thinks bigger than just that.

“I didn’t want to be mediocre,” he says of his decision to quit as a pro altogether and turn to coaching. “As a player I wanted to play at the highest level – when I couldn’t do it, the intention and the ambition was to coach and manage at the highest level.

“I loved playing, but I wanted to get to the top.”

Taking the decision to drop down from success by association at Chelsea, admitting “it could have been comfortable to stay in the blue chair”, Rodgers is still clawing his way back.

The short cut could have been a return to coaching with Manchester City, speaking to Roberto Mancini earlier this year before opting against it.

But this year’s reflective period, he says, only added to his determination to make a fist of his managerial future.

Still, by taking on the Swansea challenge, there will be no guarantees or golden paths to the Premier for him.

Already, as he fights to retain the services of key players while slugging it out to attract others, Rodgers will have noted that Swansea are financially healthy but not wealthy.

Yet, as confident as you would expect from any Mourinho protege, Rodgers is convinced the Swans are set for ascent, sooner or later.

“If it was based on where a club is financially, we would finish middle to bottom of the table, I know that,” he says. “But I don’t believe that’s what will happen because of the players we have got.

“And, more than that, Swansea City will get to the Premier League – I have no doubts of that.

“Because the way the club works, because of the way it is run, it will get there.

“There are many clubs who have invested millions and millions to find the holy grail. The Premier League is supposed to be heaven, but for many it’s turned out to be hell.

“Not here. We have astute people running the club, running it on good, sound business principles, knowing where we stand and basing it on a philosophy and a culture that is taking this club forward.”

Rodgers has been happy to offer the rhetoric about the right kind of football, something that has been backed up in his training sessions so far and warmly embraced by the players.

Important, too, not just in whetting the appetite of fans eventually turned off by Paulo Sousa, but also to a squad far more suited to the attacking game introduced by Roberto Martinez. More than that, Sousa’s training methods had long been questioned by senior players, while rifts developed because of sometimes erratic behaviour.

Already the enthusiasm and the approach of Rodgers has been welcomed. “I’ve always tried to be me,” he says of his training ground style. “The ‘BR’ on my training top means nothing if people don’t respect me as a person.

“And the first thing I deal with is players as human beings. I did it at Chelsea with some of the world’s greatest players and had a response from them as a coach.

“I felt comfortable in that environment when it was sink or swim for me. That gave me confidence in my style of managing players.”

Having only occupied the Liberty hotseat for three weeks, it may take longer for the benefits of that to show.

Still, time waits for no man and the Rodgers reign begins tomorrow, Hull away representing the first of five tough fixtures where the patience of the optimism will be tested.

Yet Rodgers is prepared to look long-term.

“The next few years may still be about establishing ourselves in the Championship – that’s not a lack of ambition but a reality because only three years ago the club were in League One,” he says. “But there have been two excellent seasons here and I have every confidence we will grow and evolve from that.

“We want to progress.”

BRENDAN RODGERS is set to break his transfer duck at Swansea City after revealing the club are poised to sign one of his top transfer targets within the next 48 hours.

While Rodgers would not reveal the player’s identity, it is understood Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair is the man in question.

The Swans have been strongly linked with a big-money move for the 21-year-old, who worked with Rodgers during his time in charge of the academy and reserve teams at Chelsea.

Rodgers, who also confirmed Swansea are close to sealing a deal for Dutch midfielder Kemy Agustien after he impressed on trial last week, has made no secret of the fact his main priority in the transfer market will be strengthening his attack.

The former Reading boss has highlighted the need for a winger and a striker and, with Sinclair the likely candidate, it seems at least one of those searches is nearly over.

“One of those players is closer to arriving than the other,” he said. “We have had a lot of offers for players turned down, but we hope to get a striker in before the transfer window shuts.

“The other player we will probably know inside the next 24 to 48 hours. That will be an exciting addition to the squad.”

As for Agustien’s arrival, after a scan revealed the knee injury he sustained last week is not as bad as first thought, Rodgers responded: “The chairman is looking to do the deal with Kemy and his agent.”

Rodgers also offered an update on the futures of in-demand duo Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel, adding: “Angel’s commitment is first class. There’s no issue there, he is a Swansea player for now.

“In terms of Darren, it’s in the board’s hands.”

Brendan Rodgers has had little time to prepare for the new season


Another summer and another new manager for Swansea City with Brendan Rodgers filling the void left by Paulo Sousa, who quit after only a year in charge for the job at Leicester City.

The Swans now start their third season in a row with a different man at the helm and will be hoping it will be third time lucky in terms of attempting to clinch a Championship play-off place.

They came agonisingly close during the 2009-10 season under Sousa, finishing seventh - their highest league position in 27 years - missing out on the play-offs by a point in a campaign during which they set a new club record of 24 clean sheets and had one of the best defences in the division.

Despite a largely successful campaign, except for the distinct lack of goals, few tears were shed on Sousa's departure amid continued speculation of unrest in the Liberty Stadium camp.

But that is in the past now and Rodgers has now begun his third job in less than two years following brief stints at Watford and then Reading, and there seems to be a new air of optimism around the club.

Defender Alan Tate is the Swans' longest-serving player, who will be starting his ninth season in south Wales, and is looking forward to working under Rodgers, who learnt some of his trade from Jose Mourinho when the pair were at Chelsea.

"It's been good," said Tate, who is also the club's vice-captain. "He's come in with new ideas that no-one at this club has come in with before.

"He's a little different to the previous management training-wise and probably tactics-wise in games.

"It's something that in two weeks the lads have come around to really quick. They've enjoyed the two weeks that he has been in.

"Training is a lot shorter, a lot sharper and a lot more based on the game we want to play.

"Paulo was a lot more tactical. Obviously, he's played in Italy and Germany where things are like that, and he tried to bring what he did in Italy over to the way we play which sort of took us away from the free-flowing stuff that we had under Roberto Martinez.

"I think this manager wants us to get back into playing a 4-3-3 system rather than 4-5-1.

"He is trying to get us into the areas to score goals. It's not just once you get one just sit back and kill the game, we want to go more for the throat this time.

"We don't want to be happy with one, but get two, three or four and hopefully that's what we can do."

After going so close to a top six finish last season, some will expect the Swans to go one better this time around.

But they will face much stiffer competition this time around with the likes of Middlesbrough and Reading expected to mount stronger challenges than they did last term.

The Swans have also lost the services of key midfielder Leon Britton to Sheffield United along with left-back Fede Bessone to Leeds United, while right-back Angel Rangel appears to be on his way to Premier League new boys Blackpool.

However, before Rodgers' arrival, the Swans brought in Neil Taylor from Wrexham to replace Bessone while Aldershot's Scott Donnelly is being tipped as the man to succeed Britton.

If he completes his free transfer, Dutchman Kemy Agustien is also set to join the battle for a place in a central midfield that already consists of Darren Pratley, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi.

And if the Swans can fill that gap and rediscover their goal-scoring touch - starting with the trip to Hull City on the opening day - they could be up there with a shout.

"We have set targets but I'm not going to say what they are," added Tate. "We will keep all that in-house.

"We are just looking over the first 10 games and I think if you ask most players at most clubs they will tell you, you will get a fair idea of where you're going to be after the first 10."


In: Scott Donnelly (Aldershot, out of contract), Neil Taylor (Wrexham, out of contract)

Out: Leon Britton (Sheffield United, free), Fede Bessone (Leeds United, free), Marcos Painter (Brighton, free), Lee Trundle and David Edgar (end of loans), Guillem Bauza (released)

Sousa and Monk had an on-the-field bust-up after the Crystal Palace game

Swansea captain Garry Monk has hit out at the training methods used by former manager Paulo Sousa.

Monk claimed some of them had little reason behind them, players were not worked hard enough and they were not allowed to do extra sessions.

But the 31-year-old defender says all that has now changed under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

"It can be a little difficult to take as a player mentally," Monk told the BBC's Sport Wales programme.

"The methods in training, there was no real reasoning behind any of his methods and why we were doing things. There was no great organisation towards it.

"Knowledge-wise he knew his stuff. But it was hard to take when you've gone from one extreme [under Sousa's predecessor Roberto Martinez] to the other extreme but it like we're back on track now.

"Training has stepped up and especially the way we play football, our football fitness is massive to us and I think you could see a lot of times last season we would dominate teams, get to the second half and we would be a bit tired and that mainly comes down from training."

Monk praised the work of Sousa in making Swansea's defence one of the tightest in the Championship last season, keeping 24 clean sheets.

But he admitted the two-times Champions League winner's style was not best suited to the way the Swans play.

"It was frustrating in terms of training going from working intensely hard every single day to practically not even getting a sweat on," added Monk, who had an on-the-pitch bust-up with Sousa after their draw with Crystal Palace last season for shaking hands with the referee who Sousa claimed had not shown the Swans respect.

"Every manager is different, everyone's philosophy is different. Paulo was a lot more laid back than other managers and you take each one as they come.

"As a group of players that I know and have trained with, every single day I know that's not what was best for us.

"Everyone agreed that we need to be pushed and pushed. In training we need to be going over the edge sometimes to get your fitness where you need it in the last five minutes, where we are being pushed to the limit in the game.

"That's kind of where we let ourselves down but it was difficult as well because we weren't allowed to do extra training.

"Every manager is different and you learn from every manager and defensively we learnt a lot from Paulo.

"We thank him for that, wish him all the best at Leicester but I think it was right for him to move on and now we've got a manager in who's going to work us."

GARRY Monk feared for Swansea City only a few weeks ago — now he expects a happier camp to prove the doubters wrong once again this season.

Swansea's experienced club skipper warns that it may take Brendan Rodgers's team a while to get up to speed in 2010-11.

But Monk will not be worried even if Swansea do not pile up the points in August.

The 31-year-old openly admits that he harboured serious concerns about what was around the corner as the players were left digesting the departure of their manager for the second time in just over a year.

Monk frets no more.

Since the arrival of Rodgers, Monk explains, there has been a good feeling within the Swansea dressing room about what the new Championship campaign may bring.

"The manager is adaptable and approachable, which is a massive difference from last year," he says.

"As a player that's what you want from your manager.

"He has been honest with us from day one, which helps, and his training sessions have been second to none.

"Training has been tremendous since he came in.

"He hasn't had a great deal of time to work with us, but in the few weeks he has been here we couldn't really have done any more."

Monk says there has been a rise in enthusiasm for the task ahead since Rodgers was confirmed as Paulo Sousa's successor last month.

"It's a massively happier camp," he continues.

"Quite often it's the older lads in a squad who have to push everyone on, but the younger boys are raring to go too.

Rebuild

"We are all hungry for success and now the manager has come in with the same philosophy."

This time last year Swansea had significant problems, as Sousa attempted to get to grips with a squad which had lost its two key goalscorers while Huw Jenkins tried to rebuild the backroom team.

Another change of manager so soon after Roberto Martinez's exit does not look ideal, but Monk stresses that there is a different feeling at the Liberty this time around.

"Don't get me wrong, it's been hard again in terms of upheaval," he says.

"But as soon as the first training session with the new manager was done, you could see the boys were instantly happier. I think we are only going to get better working with the new gaffer.

"We are not quite at our sharpest yet, and our experience is going to have to get us through the first few games of the season.

"But after four or five games, as we get our football fitness and our sharpness up, I think you will see the best of us."

What happens leading up to the closure of the transfer window is sure to have an impact.

Will Darren Pratley stay? Will Angel Rangel go? And will Rodgers secure any of his bold transfer targets?

Senior figures like Monk are desperate to hear the answers.

"It's important that we keep players like Prats and it would be nice to see Angel stay as well," he adds.

"We are not a selling club — we don't have to sell unless the deal is right for us.

"If good players do go, it's okay as long as good players come in. The board and the chairman have to replace those players properly and hopefully they will do that."

With a couple of quality additions, Swansea will believe that they can go one better than last season by reaching the Championship play-offs.

That is not a prospect Monk was considering as pre-season got under way.

"When we didn't have a manager I feared for the club," the former Southampton defender concedes.

"But, hand on heart, since that first training session under the new gaffer there's been a totally different attitude. I can feel a desire in the squad.

"Last season we proved a few people wrong, but this year people on the outside are again thinking we might be in some trouble. On the inside, though, it's not like that."

EX-ENGLAND striker Dion Dublin has urged Swansea's new boss Brendan Rodgers to instil a mean streak in his players if they want to shake their nearly-men tag.

Swansea were pipped to the play-offs by Blackpool last season, who then reached the Premier League by beating Cardiff at Wembley. Swansea failed to find the net in 18 league games, finishing with just 40 goals.

And while npower Football League ambassador Dublin admits Swansea play some of the best football in the Championship, he insists it will all go to waste if they don't start adding some grit to their game.

"When I have seen Swansea they definitely play some of the most attractive and pretty football at that level," he said.

"They pass the ball around nicely and it looks great and they are playing close to total football, but it hasn't quite worked out for them as they just missed out on the play-offs last year.

"I think that comes down to having the right balance in the team and perhaps Swansea need to tip the scales back a little.

"Of course you want to play good football more than anything else but I think the right balance is about 60 per cent total football and the other 40 per cent needs to be hard work.

"You can't get promoted from the Championship just by playing pretty football — no chance."

Dublin is also confident Brendan Rodgers is the right man for the job as he bids to lead Swansea into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

"With Rodgers at the helm we might start to see them ease away from the pretty football a little bit and adopt a slightly more aggressive approach," he added.

"And I think that if they can do this, they will definitely be one to look out for.

"You need grafters in your team who are prepared to play what I call ugly football — where if the ball needs to be cleared it needs to be cleared rather then playing the ball out and potentially getting caught.

"Swansea probably didn't have enough of that last year and perhaps they have realised that and will change."

Dion Dublin speaks courtesy of npower promoting its great new Football Saver tariff.

SWANSEA City season tickets are still available to collect from the ticket office.

Fans can pay on the day at Hull on Saturday, while tickets are available from the Liberty ticket office until 6pm today.

Items from Swansea's Dutch tour, which include T-shirts, scarves and match programmes, are on sale from the club shop.

SWANSEA City are banking on Brendan Rodgers's Chelsea links to help lure Scott Sinclair to the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea have already made contact with the Premier League champions regarding a possible move for the 21-year-old, who is expected to cost beyond the £1 million mark.

Swansea hope to speak to the Bath-born winger when he returns from Chelsea's two-game visit of Germany.

And with former Chelsea youth and reserve team boss Rodgers having worked with the England Under-20s star at Stamford Bridge, Swansea hope his influence will steer Sinclair to South Wales.

"We have spoken to Chelsea about Scott," confirmed chairman Huw Jenkins.

"Brendan obviously knows him pretty well from his time at Chelsea and we hope that could play a part in Scott's decision.

"The next step is to try to make contact with the player. If something was to happen, though, we're not sure whether it would take a few days or a few weeks."

Swansea have until the end of August before the transfer window closes, but they are keen to land Sinclair soon.

Sinclair came off the bench in all three of Chelsea's pre-season games up until last night's final warm-up match at Hamburg, but is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements when Carlo Ancelotti's side kick off the defence of their Premier League title next week.

Meanwhile, Swansea insist they have not received an improved offer from Blackpool for Angel Rangel.

Ian Holloway had seen a bid rejected for the Spaniard, and it was believed Blackpool had returned with another approach for the right-back.

But Jenkins insisted his phone has been quiet.

"I've not spoken to anyone at Blackpool since we turned down their offer," said Jenkins. "I'm not sure if they will phone us again regarding Angel, but he is a player we are not looking to sell.

"Angel is a great guy and pro, and he's a good person to have around the club.

"But we want to give Brendan the best opportunity of reaching our objectives this season and that doesn't mean selling players like Angel."

Swansea today hope to take a step forward in sorting out Darren Pratley's future.

The midfielder, who has a year left on his contract, has been the subject of interest from Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.

Jenkins revealed in yesterday's Evening Post that Forest's interest in the 25-year-old has cooled, and he plans to speak to Pratley today.

GARRY MONK has called on the Swansea City board to make sure Liberty Stadium side are ready to compete in this year’s Championship.

Skipper Monk insists new boss Brendan Rodgers has revitalised the Swans squad since replacing Paulo Sousa late last month, fuelling optimism over the new campaign.

But Rodgers has made it clear he wants to add new faces to the camp as quickly as possible, the season opener at Hull now just two days away.

Doncaster Rovers have already issued a hands-off warning over Wales playmaker Brian Stock, chairman John Ryan yesterday confirming Swansea’s approach for the 28-year-old as revealed by the Western Mail last week.

And the Swans now face intense competition from Premier League Blackpool as they look to bring Scott Sinclair in from Chelsea, Rodgers understood to be hopeful of using the personal touch by capturing the 21-year-old forward from his former club.

It is also understood Swansea made a loan move for Tottenham’s highly-rated midfielder John Bostock, although the 18-year-old seems destined for Saturday’s opponents Hull.

On top of that, Swansea still need to fight off interest in full-back Angel Rangel and key midfielder Darren Pratley having lost Leon Britton to Sheffield United earlier this summer.

But, having hailed Rodgers’ impact in his short time in charge, defender Monk has urged the powers that be to hand the former Watford and Reading chief their backing.

“This summer hasn’t been the easiest with all the upheaval again – but as soon as the first session under the new manager there was an immediate lift to everything,” he said.

“We’ve only had two weeks with him, but everyone’s excited about the future.

“I know he’s stressed he wants more players in, but only players that can strengthen us and that’s important.

“But it’s also important we keep hold of the likes of Darren Pratley, so hopefully something can be sorted there.

“It would be good to keep Angel too because we’re not a selling club and we don’t have to sell if it’s not right for us.

“We’ve already lost players which no-one wants to see, but, as long as good players come in to replace good players, or to add to them, then you can push on.

“Hopefully the board and the chairman can make sure of that.”

Chairman Huw Jenkins has already stated he is ready to support Rodgers in the transfer market, with a midfielder, wide player and a striker all on the 37-year-old boss’ wish-list.

And, while Rangel, waiting for news of a potential move to Premier new boys Blackpool, has held back from discussions over a new deal, Rodgers yesterday claimed Pratley was close to agreeing a new Liberty deal after the pair held talks in Holland last week.

“It was my number one objective to make sure one of the top midfield players in the Championship stays here,” Rodgers said, with Jenkins also stating the interest in Pratley from Nottingham Forest has come to an end.

“We are hoping that will be concluded very, very soon.”

With Swansea sticking to a prudent financial policy, Rodgers has been warned he will have to trim his squad if he is to add new faces, with work already under way to try and move on a handful of fringe players.

GARRY MONK has admitted he feared for the future of Swansea City just a matter of weeks ago.

But the Swans skipper insists that all changed the moment Brendan Rodgers stepped into the Liberty Stadium.

Monk spoke out at the end of last season when the club were faced with the loss of several key players and with a growing rift developing between manager Paulo Sousa and the board.

And the 31-year-old says he was worried further when the club were left without a manager following Sousa’s dragged-out exit to Leicester while the new season fast approached.

But the defender says Rodgers has replaced the worries with a genuine optimism ahead of the opening weekend.

And, having been bowled over by the former Reading and Watford chief’s plans for the side, Monk says he cannot help but feel confident about the coming campaign under the new man.

“If you had asked me about my thoughts on the season four or five weeks ago it would have been very different to now,” said the man who will lead out the Swans again this year, as he has done under four different managers since joining in 2004. “I said it at the end of last season, I feared for the club, I feared if we lost players.

“But, hand on my heart, the moment we had our first session with the new manager it’s a totally different feeling. That’s not just me, that’s all of us – we’ve all been lifted.”

Out of the players Swansea feared losing, only Leon Britton has so far left the Liberty.

And while the amount of players in has been limited – Neil Taylor and Scott Donnelly both arriving as long-term investments – there at least appears to be a more structured strategy in the transfer market.

That could take some time to come to true fruition, just as Monk insists it could take up to a month for the Swans squad to really feel the benefit of Rodgers’ reign.

Yet, without hitting out directly at the previous manager, it is clear both Monk and many of the squad feel part of a stronger and harmonious set-up under the enthusiastic Ulsterman.

“He’s adaptable, approachable – being honest it’s a massive difference from last year,” said Monk. “As a player, it’s what you want from your manager.

“And the training has been second to none – everything has been tremendous from the moment we walked in.

“I know he’s only had a few weeks to work with us which is not a great deal of time, but the difference is that the enthusiasm and the optimism is there.”

It is not shared by all. Rodgers’ start to the season is one tough enough to test any of the Championship promotion hopefuls, the recent Premier experience of Hull and Burnley and the promoted momentum of new boys Leeds and Norwich, with the visit of Preston thrown in for good measure.

On the outside, losing the manager who led a team to their highest placing in 27 years is a hefty punch to recover from.

But a return to attacking principles and a clearer communication between squad and management has only provided a spring in the step of Swansea’s players. If the loss of the manager for the second summer in succession was a blow, it’s difficult to see where the damage lies.

“Look, the preparations haven’t been the greatest, but there’s no point moaning about it,” said Monk. “It’s getting close to kick-off and perhaps experience can get us few the first few games while we get our sharpness and then, about five or six games in, you will see the best of us.

“A lot people on the outside were thinking we might be in trouble, that we’re weaker, but I really don’t get that sense from within the squad.

“I feel a real desire here among us. I can understand why people think that might be the case, but there’s a been a big lift to the place.

“We had some squad workshops in Holland where we were asked about what it means to play for this club, our ambitions and what we have to do to make them happen. There was a lot of honesty and it was good to hear some of the younger ones and the quieter ones and a lot of good things came out of it.

“We’ll keep what was said in house, but I’m sure everyone will be able to see for themselves as the season goes on.

“We know actions speak louder than words so it’s up for us to prove it on the pitch.”