Injuries: Federico Fernandez, Ki Sung-Yeung
Leroy Fer
Leroy Fer is probably Swansea City’s biggest threat at this moment in time. The Netherlands international has led by example in what’s been a difficult start to the season for the Swans, scoring six Premier League goals. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at the Liberty Stadium and he didn’t really show what he can do, but if he carries on his recent form he’ll play a big part in Swansea’s season and their overall position in the Premier League. Ironically, one of the defenders tasked with stopping the no.10 is Patrick van Aanholt. Why is that ironic? Because they’re cousins, so there’s not only points but bragging rights at stake for the Dutch duo.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Similar to Fer, Gylfi Sigurdsson will operate behind the striker and attempt to unsettle the Sunderland back four. The Icelandic midfielder has been the Swans’ standout performer for many years, making an impact in South Wales before returning following a brief stint at Tottenham Hotspur. He can score goals and he can create them, but more importantly he can do it from absolutely nothing, so he needs to be shackled or he could decide the game having netted four goals and notched four assists this season.
Fernando Llorente
This a player we’ve all heard of because throughout his career he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League. Now he’s here, it’s surely only a matter of time before he makes an impact. So far he’s struggled for form and despite standing at 6 ‘5 he’s not really got to grips with the physicality of the Premier League, but he has undoubted quality and he showed that with a stunning finish against Manchester City before a double in that topsy-turvy 5-4 win over Crystal Palace. He won the World Cup with Spain and during his time with Juventus he won three Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia and finished as the runner-up in the UEFA Champions League, so the Spaniard is no stranger to success and his winning mentality will be vitally important to Bob Bradley’s side.
Lukasz Fabianski
Swansea have conceded nine goals in their last two games. There is no escaping that their defensive play is the cause of their recent form because, as I’ve highlighted, they have a lot of attacking talent, so it’s worth sparing a though for Lukasz Fabianski who has been a solid performer for the club over the past few years. At the start of the season only Joe Hart, David De Gea and Simon Mignolet had kept more PL clean sheets than him since 2014, so he’s a good ‘keeper and he’ll feel like he has a point to prove following recent results. Let’s hope he doesn’t prove it this weekend!
Borja Baston
Other than Fabianski, I’ve kept the theme attacking this week and Borja Baston rounds off my ones to watch nicely. In the summer Swansea splashed out £15m for the striker who swapped Atletico Madrid, whom he joined at the age of four, for the Welsh club. It’s a big fee and, at the moment, it hasn’t quite worked out for the club or the player, but he’s a talented lad and at 24 he’s got time on his side. Last season he scored 18 goals in 36 appearances while on loan at Eibar and the season before that he netted 22 times in 38 games for Real Zaragoza, so although he’s not hit the ground running he will be confident in his ability and he’s certainly a player to look out for.
