Swansea City getting squad players fit for first team inclusion and January transfers
Wednesday, 27th Oct 2021 09:00 by Keith Haynes

It’s taken some time but at least Russell Martin has given his blessing for first team squad players to get games in the reserves for the foreseeable future. In the recent 2-0 win against Watford on Monday the process reaped immediate rewards. Russell Martin has little choice in making this decision as the players leaving in January need their match fitness, and games under their belt.

It gets them fit and ensures medicals in January, and there will definitely be players leaving the club, are passed without a hitch. To give players like Rhys Williams, Liam Walsh and Brandon Cooper game time is essential, and the decision to include them was first class management.

Coventry City are the visitors to Swansea on Thursday. So a pretty strong swans side is expected to be fielded again. For some this may well should have been the decision made some four or five weeks ago, however with the game on Monday and the game on Thursday it’s an ideal opportunity for the players who have seen little action this season. Looking at the starting eleven on Monday, only two players were over 23 in any event. Senior figures Steven Benda, Liverpool loanee Rhys Williams, Brandon Cooper, Jay Fulton, Liam Walsh, Yan Dhanda, Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen all featured for 90 minutes as they picked up some valuable game-time for Kris O'Leary's side, who were watched on by first-team boss Russell Martin in Landore.

Jacob Jones was one player who loved the opportunity to play in front of Russell Martin.“Getting used to the pace and intensity that they play at is very good learning for myself,” said Jones. “They are bringing in elements that the head coach has brought to the football club and it’s good to get to grips with that because ultimately that’s where I want to be - playing for the first team in the stadium. “Every time I play I’ve got to try and impress no matter whose watching, but especially when Russell Martin is here it’s a chance to impress and put my name forward”

Jacob Jones,the defender has been at the swans since he was nine

Unser 23 assistant manager Anthony Wright was thrilled at the opportunity for both first team and reserves to play in the same game.“The boys have come down and their application and attitude were absolutely spot on, they did everything that was expected of them and showed the professionalism within the group which was absolutely top draw,” said Wright. “But as we said to the players, watch and learn because this is where you need to get so they need to be looking and seeing that they want to be a part of that group, look at what they have to do to be part of that group and how they will get there. “Russell Martin is in constant contact with us, he watches all the games that we play and he’s always talking to us”

There’s an indication that not so many will be involved on Thursday at Landore. But expect some to feature for sure.

Swansea City have a young manager, in fact the youngest in the league, he has a vision and a way he wants to see the club play, at all levels. It’s bleeding through all the development sides and the reserves and it is showing. Martin’s strategy and inclusion of players at all levels, and not only that displays a manager who is keen to have his finger on the pulse right through the developmental network of the club. Something the vast majority of football clubs do not have.

Big shifts in mindset and strategy don’t happen overnight, and are not something you can order from game to game. There has to be a blueprint for this, and Swansea City continue to implement there own future vision, the club are in very safe hands as a result.