Bashir Humphreys has been elevated from the under 20 England side to train this week with the full international squad. With injuries to the full squad thwarting Gareth Southgate and numerous players on the injury list Bashir has got the nod.

Swans players Charlie Patino and Nathan Wood have deservedly been called up to the under 21 England side which means that alongside Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen, Josh Thomas, Cameron Congreve, Ben Hughes and Joel Cotterill there will be plenty of Swans representation in the under 21 and full Wales and England squads this week. Unfortunately Azeem Abdulai is out with a long term injury which meant he and to withdraw from his Scotland call up.

The call for Bashir to join up at St George’s Park isn’t that much of an inconvenience as he is already there with the England under 20 set up. It really does reemphasise the faith that Mauricio Pochettino at his parent club Chelsea has in the player. He reluctantly allowed Bashir to go out on loan wanting him to fill in as back up to his first team selections this season. However, Paul Watson the Swans Sporting Director managed to prise the twenty year old away from Stamford Bridge for the season.

The international break was being seen as an opportunity for Swans head coach Michael Duff to galvanise his side as they prepare for the South Wales derby on Saturday week. However in Wood, Humphreys and Cullen especially he has players that will be away until next week, in some cases until Wednesday. That will mean he has just a few days for Bashir to be indoctrinated in to the Swansea squad before the Cardiff City game.

That could mean he won’t be starting in the big match at the Cardiff City stadium.

The other issue Duff has as the months progress to January is a recall for Bashir back to Chelsea if he is as expected a success for the Swans. Details of a recall clause haven’t been released by the Swans, although whether it’s public knowledge or not is neither here nor there. News of such a clause would put fans minds at ease. It may well be an international break for the premier league and certain EFL clubs (some championship slides have no call ups and will benefit from two weeks training together) but the good news on all things Swansea City continue.

And as the Welsh derby gets closer as well.

Hopefully all new arrivals at the Swansea.Com Stadium will be briefed in the importance of this game for both cities. A local kick about it is not, and the victors, as the Swans have been in seven out of the last nine league meetings isn’t something that should be disregarded, and definitely not down played.

Losing isn’t an option.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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