The Swans are going into the Championship season opener at Middlesbrough on Saturday (3pm) full of confidence. Several injuries are clearing up but there are still some question marks.

This report covers numerous pieces of information not yet readily available.

First off Zǎn Vipotnik has made ‘great strides’ after a toe injury which kept him out of the only home friendly of the season last Saturday against Lorient of France. He will most certainly travel and when the Swans settle into their base for this game more checks will be done.That sounds hopeful. News on Ben Cabango is limited but what we do know is that his scan last week did show up some anomalies with us being told he’s really not fit and ready for this game. Ben hasn’t kicked a pre season match ball since the Spanish camp three weeks ago.

As it stands we don’t expect him to be in the squad, but that is as of Tuesday morning.

News on Eom (below 2) and Inoussa is better, both came through their run outs on Saturday and to date will be available. With those two fit alongside Melker Widell and Ethan Galbraith the side is shaping up. Ronald is also fit and the only question for head coach, Alan Sheehan (below 1) to ponder is the inclusion of Kaelan Casey or Jay Fulton in a flexible defensive role. Sheehan clearly has a lot of time for Fulton who he has played consistently in pre season.

This wouldn’t be an issue if Cabango was fit. Casey possibly would be a gamble throwing him in for this opening game but when you think about it he is going to play very shortly in any event. On him signing on loan we have been told that the Swans really could have announced him coming for the season pending a medical two days ago. They haven’t although the player is believed to be in Swansea already so surely that will be tidied up today ?

Ricardo Santos the Swans ‘back up’ centre back is still out and maybe will return to training in ten days or so. Cameron Burgess should captain the side with Josh Key and Josh Tymon operating either side of the pitch. Ollie Cooper is also available as is Liam Cullen, Bobby Wales and keeper, Lawrence Vigouroux.

We have been urged to be on the cautious side regards recently rumoured loans in from Liverpool and Manchester City. One maybe even two are most certainly incorrect. That needs working on. We can confirm there is an effort continuing to bring in another player but it is more than likely to be next week. The Swans do have some excellent links in Northern Europe and Scotland as we know. We now expect two loans and a permanent signing before this window ends, but as we have seen the fluidity of this summer window brings about changes every day. There’s still twenty six days before this window closes, then we can relax for a bit.

Finally on Richard Kone, there has been no walking away or finishing interest, and as we explained yesterday it’s very simple. The Swans have valued him and have offered Wycombe what they think is a generously structured payment package with add ons. Preston were quickly rejected. That is a club no longer interested. Pending a bid from another club and that may be any club - that’s what Wycombe Wanderers have on the table. We haven’t even bothered to go asking questions on other bids, as of yesterday morning the Swans were the only club with an official offer that remains open in the future.

That isn’t walking away nor is it giving up.

⚽️ That’s here —> Kone : Simple explanation

We will have more match day build up this week and will obviously monitor the truth behind the news and investigate it properly, just as you like it.

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