Kevin Ball reviews the Swansea City ranks ahead of Sunderland’s Premier League clash against the Welsh side..
Injured: Jefferson Montero (hamstring), Wayne Routledge (hernia), Angel Rangel (foot), Nathan Dyer (Achilles).
Gylfi Sigurdsson
No player has more assists in 2017 and Gylfi Sigurdsson without a doubt holds the key to Swansea City’s success this weekend – and their survival. The Icelander has stood out above all others within the Swansea ranks and I’m a big of his overall game. He impacts the play in every third and his delivery from set pieces is fantastic, so Sunderland’s defenders have to be on their toes. He’s netted nine Premier League goals on top of 12 assists and without him the Welsh side would already be planning for life in the Championship, but they have a chance and this weekend they have to take it.
Alfie Mawson
I’ve monitored Alfie Mawson’s progress over the last few years and every time I see him play I leave impressed. He was linked with a move to the Stadium of Light last summer – along with a host of other clubs – but it was a switch to South Wales that materialised and in recent months he’s really found his feet. Initially he was in and out of the team but since the turn of the year he’s been ever-present and in 2017 he’s also chipped in with four goals. Last weekend he was outstanding against a very good Everton side and it’s no wonder his manager Paul Clement is tipping him to go to the very top.
Jack Cork
Jack Cork has been a key cog in Swansea’s line-up this season and he will try and control the midfield – and the tempo of the game – this weekend. Only Kyle Naughton has made more successful passes for the Swans this campaign but he’s also not afraid to get stuck in. He’s made 58 tackles this season, only one of his team-mates has more, and he allows the likes of Sigurdsson to do what they do best by giving them the freedom to attack. If Lee Cattermole returns it’ll be an intriguing battle and one to watch closely.
Fernando Llorente
There’s probably not a lot I can say about Fernando Llorente that hasn’t already been said, but I’ll give it a go nonetheless. The World Cup winner has enjoyed a solid first season in England having scored 13 PL goals, but the biggest surprise is that no one seemed to expect him to do so. It was a real coup by Swansea to bring him to the club last summer and within months he was being linked with Chelsea, which tells you all you need to know. He doesn’t rely on pace or running the channels, his biggest attribute is his intelligence and the way he reads the game – and his finishing isn’t bad either!