The Swans have been given a real chance of getting to the group stages of the Europa League after yesterday's draw gave them Romanian opponents.

Admittedly we don't know a great deal about Petrolul Ploiesti (I have to confess I can't even spell it without looking it up!) but I would expect a team that was top half of the Premier League last season to get past the third best team in Romania especially given the fact we have a stronger team than we had last season around.

Progression into the group stages will give us an extra six ties at minimum in Europe and beyond that then who knows what is possible but I don't expect us to fall at the play off hurdle stage.

The ease in which we brushed past Malmo was quite frightening and I think the Swedes would have possibly provided a tougher test for us than the Romanians will and having the first leg at the Liberty also helps us no end as it means - like the last round - we could build up a lead that takes the pressure off the following week.

Europa league progress of course means our squad will be tested to the full and I think this is one of the reason that we saw seven changes on Thursday night in Sweden as it gives more of our squad match practice which will be needed this season.

Michael is also proving to be shrewd as he puts not pressure on his squad “You take it step by step,” said the Dane. “We could set a target and say it would be nice to do this or that but you cannot do that.

“When I was in this competition with Getafe, we had a terrible start to the league season.

“But we suddenly picked up results in Europe against teams like Tottenham and Anderlecht and went on to play Benfica and Bayern Munich — but that was unexpected.

“It’s fantastic for the players and the club to have more European games to help them in the present and the future, but you just don’t know what can happen.”

The Swans attention though of course will turn away from the Europa League as they prepare for the visit of Manchester United to the Liberty next Saturday for their first Premier League fixture of the season

Photo: Action Images

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