Swansea City

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Alan Sheehan hopes "diamond" Eom Ji-Sung can ignite his season having netted his first goal of the campaign for South Korea during the international break.

The 23-year-old wide midfielder is yet to score in 11 appearances across all competitions for Swansea City this season.

But he got his 2025-26 account up and running with the opener in a 2-0 friendly win over Paraguay.

And Swans head coach Sheehan feels the wideman is closer to reaching his best levels after injury disrupted his pre-season.

"Ji-Sung missed all of pre-season and then it was about getting him up to speed. I think he showed some flashes of the form that he was in last year, especially at the end of the year where he was outstanding," said the Irishman.

"I think he had a good game against Leicester. Then he played, obviously a lot of travelling back, so he's not been on the grass with us yet, so he's on his second day of recovery.

"I don't know the time zones and that, so he'll be back in with us tomorrow (Friday). But absolutely delighted for him to score to give him that confidence and Ji Sung is an excellent player.

"It took him time to adapt to the level which is expected. He's a wonderful person, he's great to work with, he really is.

"He's a diamond of a lad and he is somebody that we have high hopes for and we know that there's definitely more to come from him."

Swansea City's Josh Tymon reflects on his time at the club and his future.

Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan reflects on the international break and looks forward to his side's Championship game at Southampton on Saturday.

Southampton host Swansea City on Saturday (12:30 BST) as they look extend their unbeaten run (W1 D2) to a fourth game.

The season hasn't unfolded as well as the Saints would have liked so far, finding themselves 17th on the table and with work to do to make up the eight points they lag behind pace makers Coventry City.

Swansea, meanwhile, had a good start but have only won one of their past five league games (D2 L2), leaving them three points under the top six.

• Southampton have won each of their last three league matches against Swansea City, last winning four on the bounce in August 1935.

• Swansea City have won just one of their last 15 away league games against Southampton (D3 L11), while they've failed to score on their previous three trips.

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last three Championship matches (W1 D2), their best unbeaten league run since going four without defeat in April 2024 under Russell Martin.

• Swansea City have won four of their last seven away Championship matches (L3), as many as they'd won in their previous 17 on the road (W4 D4 L9).

• Southampton have the second best xG in the Championship this season (15.5), but they have only scored 11 goals, underperforming by 4.5 goals. Only Sheffield United have a worse ratio this season (-6.7).

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Alan Sheehan is heading back to the club where he spent "half an hour" on the coaching staff hoping Swansea City will put up a better fight than on their previous league visit to Southampton.

Swansea return to action after the international break with a lunchtime kick-off at St Mary's on Saturday.

For Sheehan, the fixture means a reunion with former employers.

The Swansea boss spent three months as Southampton's first-team coach during Nathan Jones' brief stint in charge of Saints in the 2022-23 Premier League season.

And while his spell at Southampton was short, Sheehan says it taught him plenty.

"I took so much learning out of it, going into a football club in the Premier League and understanding what you need to do and what you have to do," he said.

"Obviously the level of the league was incredibly high. It was a very short period, but it's something and somewhere that I took a lot of learning from."

Sheehan is preparing to return to Southampton as a full-time head coach for the first time having led Swansea on their most recent league trip there.

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That came in December 2023, when Sheehan was in caretaker charge following the departure of Michael Duff.

The Swans' form during Sheehan's seven-game spell at the helm was encouraging for the most part, but they were demolished 5-0 by a Southampton side who were en route to promotion to the Premier League under Russell Martin.

Sheehan regards that defeat as another useful lesson in his career.

"I think sometimes you take more from the losses than the wins," Sheehan said.

"Nobody wants to win more than me and you've got to be able to win in different ways.

"But with the losses you need to learn why and, when they're convincing losses, there are obviously reasons behind it."

Swansea were also well beaten on their most recent trip to Southampton, as Luke Williams' team went down 3-0 against their then Premier League hosts in the FA Cup third round last January.

Having been relegated last season, Southampton have made a slow start to this campaign.

Boss Will Still has seen his new side win two and draw five of their nine league games so far in 2025-26.

"I think it's another team with a new manager transitioning into a way they want to play," Sheehan said.

"We've had Leicester [before the international break] and we have Southampton, Ipswich and Manchester City in this block coming up, so four teams that were in the Premier League last year.

"It's definitely not a game to underestimate. Southampton are a difficult team with individuals that are highly capable for the level."

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Swansea City face a run of seven games in 21 days when they return to action after the international break.

It is at times like these, Alan Sheehan points out, that you need players like Lawrence Vigouroux and Josh Tymon.

Swansea have lost some good players – such as Ryan Manning and Harry Darling – for nothing in recent years because their contracts have been allowed to run down.

Others, such as Joel Piroe and Nathan Wood, have been sold because they had only a year to run on their respective deals, weakening Swansea's position when interest came from elsewhere.

So the recent news that goalkeeper Vigouroux and left-back Tymon have agreed fresh long-term contracts was welcome from a business perspective.

The deals are also good news for Swansea's head coach, who knows two of his more reliable performers will be around for a while yet.

"Vigs (Vigouroux) and Tymo (Tymon) are week in, week out Championship players," Sheehan said.

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"You get programmed to the Championship – [playing games] Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday.

"Tymo has been doing that since he's been here. I know Vigs is a goalie but he's the same. They show up every single day, they rack it up."

Ensuring the likes of Vigouroux and Tymon will stick around is even more important for a club who have predominantly signed players who are not tried and tested in the Championship in recent windows.

"When we bring in players from different leagues and different countries, it takes some time to adapt," Sheehan added.

"So to have players who are programmed to play that number of games at that level, [is important].

"I am delighted for the two of them [after the contract extensions] because they are two wonderful characters and they deserve it, they have been very good."

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Liam Cullen reckons Snoop Dogg could make his first appearance at a Swansea City game when Alan Sheehan's team play Hollywood-owned Wrexham in December.

Swansea have indicated the American rapper will attend a fixture after he became a co-owner and investor at the Championship club in July.

There have long been suggestions that the visit of Wrexham, who are owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, on Friday, 19 December may see Snoop Dogg make a maiden visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

And it appears that is also the talk within the Swansea dressing room.

"I think he (Snoop Dogg) is actually coming over for the Wrexham game, that's what I've heard," Swansea forward Cullen told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"I am looking forward to seeing him."

Snoop Dogg's son Cordell Broadus has already visited Swansea, meeting the players and watching the game from the directors' box as Sheehan's men drew 1-1 with Watford in August.

"We have had his son in," Cullen added.

"With the new investors, Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on to the club and with the investment and stuff, there is a bit of a higher expectation now which is a good thing for us."

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Richard Montague has returned to former club Notts County as director of football less than a month after leaving Swansea City.

Montague spent almost six years with the Magpies before leaving to become director of football at Swansea in February.

But the 39-year-old lasted only seven months at the Championship club, who announced he was leaving after "an internal review of our football operations".

Swansea have indicated they will not replace Montague, with his responsibilities falling instead to chief executive Tom Gorringe and Adam Worth, their global head of analytics and recruitment.

Montague agreed to join Swansea when Luke Williams, his former colleague at Meadow Lane, was the club's head coach.

But with the Swans struggling for form, Williams departed just as Montague arrived.

He then led the search for Williams' long-time successor, speaking to a number of potential candidates, but Swansea ultimately handed Alan Sheehan a long-term contract after he impressed as interim boss.

Montague says he is "incredibly excited and grateful to be back at Notts" and that he is returning with "fresh ideas, experiences and contacts".

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Defender Marc Guehi says he is "eternally grateful" to Swansea City for his productive loan spells with the club earlier on in his career.

The centre-back had two separate stints with Swans on loan from Chelsea and helped Steve Cooper's side reach the Championship play-offs in successive seasons.

And having gone on to shine with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, in addition to earning 25 England caps, Guehi was quick to thank Swansea ahead of the Three Lions' friendly fixture with Wales at Wembley on Thursday (19:45 BST).

"It (his time at Swansea) was great to be honest. Tough I would say just because it was my first time going away from home and being in a different place," he said.

"It was exactly what I needed at the time.

"For me, learning as much as possible in the men's game was something that was just a pleasure to be part of, especially Swansea, I can't give them enough credit for the way they treated me and helped me, the club, the staff and especially the fans.

"I'm eternally grateful to Swansea."

Guehi made 59 appearances for Swansea, having first signed in January 2020 and then returned for the entire 2020-21 campaign.

He will be reunited with a number of players who were Swansea team-mates as Wales head to London.

"I'm looking forward to seeing them, I enjoyed playing with them, [Ben] Cabango, Liam [Cullen] and Joe [Rodon], so I'm looking forward to the game," added the 25-year-old.

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BBC Sport asked Swansea City fans which of their players have caught the eye so far this season - and which have not.

Here are some of the responses we received:

Satch - Vipi [Zan Vipotnik] without doubt, the guy is top top quality but needs that arm around the shoulder some players need to be at their best. Give him service and he will score.

Richard - Ethan Galbraith has been outstanding. Cameron Burgess a great signing. Goncalo Franco, Zan Vipotnik and Lawrence Vigouroux have all played well. Adam Idah and Liam Cullen need to improve drastically but our weak link is Josh Key - his defending is a major cause for concern.

Bob - Zan Vipotnik has been on fire and Ronald. Josh Tymon has been defensively a lot better and less mistakes. Even though Liam Cullen got a goal against Blackburn I think he is massively underperforming.

JibJob - Obvious best performers would be Zan Vipotnik, Ethan Galbraith and Lawrence Vigouroux. Think Zeidane Inoussa has gone massively under the radar, he's a player that will come to be a key player later in the season when he settles. Think Josh Key has been the weakest link.

Gareth - Ben Cabango has been awesome. He's making it his own for Swansea and Wales. I'll be honest though, I think all who started [against Leicester] played well - just lacking consistency from game to game.

Simon - Ethan Galbraith, Zeidane Inoussa and Zan Vipotnik top of the class. Josh Key needs to improve his decision-making when we're attacking. Ben Cabango needs to cut out the mistakes. I'm not convinced he's good enough to be captain.

Huw - Ethan Galbraith and Zan Vipotnik have been the standout performers so far. You could always see the quality with Vipotnik but just needed a run of games. Unfortunately I don't think Galbraith will be with us for very long, he's the best midfielder we've had since the Premier League. On the other hand, Josh Key has not been the same player this season compared to last. I also believe Cameron Burgess is not good enough on the ball to play in our system and has been caught out on many occasions.

Gethin - I think you cannot ignore how good Ethan Galbraith has been this season. He has been fantastic! On another note, so far Josh Key has failed to impress this season and continues to waste possession and good attacking possibilities.

Ben - All players have been good and not far off getting more points. To get to the play-off places they need to improve individually and as a team... they have some exciting attacking talent.

Josh - I think Ethan Galbraith has been a fantastic signing and I dare say an upgrade on Matt Grimes, who I really didn't want us to sell. Manuel Benson hasn't pulled off anything he's tried when he's had minutes and is trying too hard to do it all himself when he gets the ball. As our big-money signing, you have to say Adam Idah takes the crown as biggest underperformer so far - he looks a bit lost, and having Zan Vipotnik start ahead of him seems to have shaken his confidence, rather than motivate him.

Clare - Ethan Galbraith has been a fantastic signing and has been our best player this season up to now. Cameron Burgess has also been a good signing. Players are fighting for squad places now and that is something we haven't had for a while.

Swansea City sit 12th during what is the penultimate international break of the year, having taken 12 points from the first 27 on offer in the Championship.

But who do you think have been the best performers under Alan Sheehan so far this season? And which player or players do you think need to improve?

Have your say here

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Alan Sheehan is to give Swansea City's non-international players some time off this week in an attempt to prepare for the brutal run of fixtures which is around the corner.

A number of Sheehan's squad members have departed for duty with their respective national teams following defeat to Leicester City last weekend.

While those left behind will do some training this week, Sheehan believes it is also important to "give them a couple of days" to recharge batteries.

Swansea return to action after the break with a trip to Southampton on 18 October, which will be the first of seven games in three weeks before the November international window.

"I think everybody benefits from spending time with family," said head coach Sheehan.

"The lads that are here, if they want to go home for a couple of days, I think that's definitely beneficial.

"Then when the team is back in it's bang, bang, bang because it is seven games in 21 days, so it's quite mental."

Sheehan will be keeping an eye on his various international players as they jet around the world.

Lawrence Vigouroux's Chile are in action against Peru, Eom Jisung is with South Korea for games against Brazil and Paraguay and Cameron Burgess is in the Australia squad for friendlies in Canada and the USA.

Marko Stamenic's New Zealand play friendlies in Poland and Norway, Manuel Benson is in the Angola squad for matches against Eswatini and Cameroon and Zan Vipotnik is with Slovenia for games against Kosovo and Switzerland.

Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen are both in Craig Bellamy's Wales squad who travel to Wembley for a friendly against England on Thursday before hosting Belgium in a World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium next Monday.

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Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen will be in action closer to home as Wales take on England and Belgium, with Ethan Galbraith facing home games for Northern Ireland against Slovakia and Germany.

Adam Idah is another of the Swansea players on international duty, with Republic of Ireland facing Portugal and Armenia.

"Everybody's telling me you need a day off, but you end up checking on every one of them," Sheehan said.

"We'll be without them until probably Wednesday, Thursday before the next game.

"You would love to have them there. I think it would be good to have that 10 days together just to put other things in place because we're not getting loads of time on the training pitch.

"But you also have to appreciate that representing your country is a great honour for any player."

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Swansea City were unfortunate to be beaten by high-flying Leicester City on Saturday.

Swansea lost at home for the first time this season as the Foxes ran out 3-1 victors at the Swansea.com Stadium.

A frustrated Alan Sheehan said after the match that he did not want Swansea to "be a nearly team", insisting his players must believe they can "go toe to toe with everybody in the division".

Ex-Leicester player Roberts, who was at the game as a pundit, felt Swansea impressed despite the defeat.

"I was shocked at what Alan said after the game because I thought they did compete against Leicester," Roberts said.

"I thought they were the better team for large periods of the game.

"What beat them on the day were Leicester's first two goals, which were incredible, from Jordan James first and Abdul Fatawu.

"They had more possession than Leicester which not many teams will do this season. They had the same number of shots [on target] as Marti Cifuentes' team.

"It's only Alan Sheehan's second loss at the Swansea.com Stadium in 20 games and I thought they were unlucky to lose on the day."

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Alan Sheehan has told Melker Widell "his chance will come" after the Sweden international's low-key start to life at Swansea City.

Widell, 23, is yet to begin a Championship game since arriving at Swansea in the summer and he has not even made the bench in their past three games.

There was considerable excitement at Swansea after they completed the signing of midfielder Widell from Danish side AaB Aalborg for a significant fee back in January.

As part of the deal, Widell spent the remainder of the season on loan at Aalborg before moving to Wales on a contract which runs until 2029.

Since the Widell transfer was agreed, Sheehan has replaced Luke Williams as Swansea's head coach, while then chairman Andy Coleman has stepped aside.

Nevertheless, Sheehan insists Swansea's new-look hierarchy regard Widell as a player with a big future.

"He signed here on a long-term contract and is massively part of our plans," Sheehan said.

"I've had numerous talks with Melker – he is a top lad, his attitude is wonderful and he will get there.

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"He is not there yet. He's got things he needs to improve on like every player. But in terms of how he trains every day, how he is around the place, he's excellent and he's going to be involved for us."

Widell has played only 65 minutes of league football across six substitute appearances for Swansea, while he started Carabao Cup ties against Crawley Town and Plymouth Argyle and came off the bench in the win over Nottingham Forest.

Sheehan says the former Malmo youngster's best position is attacking midfield.

Competition for places in that area of the pitch at Swansea has been fierce, with the likes of Ethan Galbraith, Malick Yalcouye, Goncalo Franco and Liam Cullen all featuring in more advanced midfield roles – usually ahead of Marko Stamenic in the holding role – at times this season.

"Obviously that's the difficulty in my job, leaving players out who are doing everything right on the training pitch and with how they are," Sheehan added.

"I think ultimately Melker is getting used to a different way of playing and getting better. He's got so much desire to get better and he will get better.

"He's improving all the time, so his chance will come."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Boss Alan Sheehan was reluctant to search for positives – or excuses – after Swansea City's first home defeat of the season.

While Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Coventry City have been among the early pacesetters in the Championship, Sheehan reckons Leicester could be the side who get over the line first come next May.

Nevertheless, Sheehan's frustration over Swansea's failure to get a result against the Foxes was clear.

Certainly, Sheehan's team competed with Leicester, or at least they did until Abdul Fatawu's goal made it 2-1 10 minutes from time.

But a visiting team loaded with players who were operating in the Premier League last season carried greater menace throughout the contest, hence they scored three goals and hit the woodwork three times.

A couple of Swansea players looked a little weary, while Sheehan had left Ethan Galbraith and Zeidane Inoussa out of his starting side because of the minutes they had racked up previously.

Yet Swansea's head coach quickly rejected the idea that fatigue might have held his team back, saying: "I'm not going to hide behind that, in terms tiredness or anything."

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Swansea asked questions of Leicester without creating enough clear-cut opportunities.

The goal they scored came from the penalty spot, with Adam Idah finding the target for the first time since his big-money move from Celtic.

Was Idah getting off the mark one positive Swansea could take from defeat?

"Yeah, look, there are some positives," Sheehan said. "But I hate losing. I really do. And we've not lost a whole lot, so it is disappointing."

And so Sheehan is left to stew over a rare home reverse throughout the international break, with Swansea not back in action until they go to another of last season's relegated Premier League clubs, Southampton, on 18 October.

It promises to be another stern test for Sheehan's new-look Swansea side, even if Saints' start to the season has been underwhelming.

But expect Sheehan to be simmering once more if his team come away from St Mary's with nothing.