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No Pressure On Gylfi Says Monk

The Swans take on Everton at the Liberty this afternoon as two sides go head together with the likely prize for the winners being a place in the Premier League top four come the end of today.

That gives you some idea as to how good the two sides start to the season has been and that is despite the disappointment of the Swans defeat at Watford last weekend.

Many of the headlines created by the Swans this season have revolved around Jefferson Montero, Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew all of whom have had excellent starts to the season and attracted many plaudits between them.

The one surprise has possibly been the form of Gylfi Sigurdsson who has been exceptionally quiet especially when you compare it to his form this time last year where he was one of the most sparkling midfielders in the Premier League.

It hasn't been all bad for Gylfi who of course has helped his native Iceland to the finals of Euro 2016 just two weeks ago but his club form has not reached the heights that we have grown to expect from him.

Manager Garry Monk though is insisting that there is no pressure on the player and to be fair we all know that form is temporary but class is permanent and Gylfi is a class player.

"Attacking players will always be judged on assists and goals,” Monk acknowledged, "and If they don’t come, people tend to think they are playing poorly.

"But for me Gylfi does a job for the team with the work-rate, effort and the quality he has, it’s just he has not got that assist or goal. He has come close, he has been unlucky.

"But the way we attack now has changed. At the start of last season Gylfi and (Wilfried) Bony were involved in a high percentage of our attacks.

"I tried to identify how we could spread that out a bit and when you do that, the percentage for each player comes down a bit. We attack now through the likes of Jeff (Montero), Andre (Ayew), Bafe (Gomis), Gylfi, the full-backs. It’s a slightly different way of attacking.

"For me Gylfi is still a fantastic player, he is doing exceptionally well and I am very happy with him.”

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