The Swans are staying close to Elland Road for tomorrow’s game and will have their first real opportunity to mix with new coaches Mark Fotheringham and Richard Stearman away from the training ground.

With time to exercise and warm down there is nothing like getting to know your workmates away from your working environment. And we have been told there is going to be something ‘special’ about Swansea City tomorrow. Well, if that’s the case then not going the same way as most teams do at Elland has to be in the plan ! But seriously, avoiding a heavy defeat is the number one priority if defeat is the outcome. Only recently Alex Neil has masterminded a 0-2 victory for his Millwall side in the league this season at Leeds.

The latest on Harry Darling that we have is he isn’t one hundred percent fit but has travelled. How that fits into Alan Sheehan’s plans of course we won’t know until tomorrow afternoon. There is cover of course in Hannes Delcroix - and Ben Cabango returned from Wales duty pretty much unscathed. Liam Cullen should play despite some minor treatment and Joe Allen is in the same boat. There is a question mark regards Josh Key although we still remain confident in his abilities. He hasn’t had a remarkable season but in a more solid role at right back he has his positives. On the opposite side of defence Josh Tymon is fit, he really does provide some momentum going forwards but he will have Dan James on his mind tonight. Dan is having a superb time on the right wing for Leeds United, and he is in double figures on his goal return. Yes, he does at times run out of ideas but overall his link play is far better this season and superior to anything Swansea City have. For us this is a crucial area to dwell upon.

But not to the extent the strategy changes completely.

In this game keeping the likes of James (below) as quiet as possible is one area of concern, but also the Leeds midfield. Rothwell and Tanaka are virtually ever present this campaign. Rothwell providing assists and Tanaka scoring goals and also pitching in with assists. They both play in a defensive midfield position but have exceptional pace moving forwards. Midfield danger-man is Israeli, Manor Solomon. He has also played in the majority of games for Leeds this season. Seven goals and seven assists reflect that, Leeds are keen to sign him from his parent club, Spurs if they do get promoted. Our number one player in this team is USA International Brenden Aaronson. He has played in all of Leeds games this season. He is disciplined and has scored eight goals to date. Ethan Ampadu makes a return for Leeds, and he will be named in the squad.

With fifty one goals scored more than their opponents in all matches this season and a total of seventy five, any team visiting Elland Road has to be mindful of what they are up against. The midfield will make or break this game for either side, the Swans do have a more functional centre midfield since Matt Grimes left, but Gonçalo Franco and Lewis O’Brien will have to be on their game if selected. However, looking at some of the open training patterns this week don’t be surprised if Jay Fulton isn’t considered. The industry of Franco is yet to be seen over ninety minutes and he does have some big areas for development, could that be on Sheehan’s mind ? If available after some treatment this week Joe Allen is an alternative.

Can Sheehan look any further than Eom, Ronald and Vipotnik as a form of attack ? Despite not scoring that many this season certain journalists are throwing Vipotnik’s name about in earnest. There is of course Josh Ginnelly who will be getting stronger with every training session and he is ready to feature more as well as Ollie Cooper. These two players are available and have travelled.

Good news as well that Sam Parker despite some treatment could be included in the squad. He played for the Wales U21 this week. Both he and Ginnelly add something different to the usual patterns we see from a pretty sterile and stoic Swans team. The Swans have been screaming out for pace this season, and it has been lacking. Overall should the aim be not to lose, or should it be go all out for the points ? The last time these two sides met it was a seven goal thriller, once again we saw the Swans fall down at the end of the game, it was really frustrating.

Relive that here.

In some quarters it is still being talked about as game of the season, it was a great watch for the neutral. It was a bit of a crossroads for the Swans, had they won that game the season could well have taken off. Thereafter another desperate defeat this time to Sunderland after being two goals up followed. That led into some decent results but overall was the first indicator that Luke Williams, then head coach didn’t have the wherewithal to manage a team in the Championship to any degree.

The main priority of course is for the swans to avoid relegation this season. Thereafter another four home games that some have marked down as winnable. Derby County and Plymouth Argyle are up next after this fixture, they are crucial. On the run up to the end of the campaign the Swans have Hull City and Oxford United also at home (last game of the season) Ample opportunity to get the two wins that the club need to have another shot at the Championship next time around.

The away trip to QPR seems to be a favourite with the Jack Army, tickets are flying out for that game. That’s an Easter Monday fixture fixed for 3pm. In fact six of the remaining games this season are 3pm kick offs as it stands. Plymouth at home being a midweek 7:45pm game and the last games of the season throughout the Championship are 12.30pm starts UK time.

It’s an exciting time for Swansea City fans with some great fixtures coming up. Alan Sheehan has kept his focus stating yesterday it’s been a short time to see what he has available. “To be fair today is the first day we’ve had the group together, after coming back from Korea, there was a trip to Australia, Chile, Slovenia and the Wales boys were in Macedonia. Those players have come back in and we are assessing a few bumps and bruises, we had trained with a small group and then we had them together today. Harry Darling is back on the grass so we’ll have a look at him closer to the time. It’s not definite yet that he will be available, it’s not 100 per cent”

That’s echoed today again by the Indy, Harry Darling is a big call and really if it’s a risk then why bother ? There are bigger games ahead. Getting the squad back together and in the right mindset for the run in to the end of the season is his primary focus. Sheehan knows his position, he does need to demonstrate his qualities alongside Stearman, Fotheringham, O’Leary and Margetson. We are still slightly confused how the in game analysis will go, we have an indication that Richard Montague has that in hand, it does seem to be a big part of every clubs strategy these days.

That’s aside Swansea fans are invited to demonstrate their support for two Leeds United supporters murdered in Turkey twenty five years ago. On the twenty fifth minute tomorrow the home crowd will turn their backs on the pitch in remembrance of that night in Istanbul. They were killed in a clash between Leeds fans and locals instigated by a local hooligans group called the ‘The Night Watchmen’ Kevin Speight then forty and Christopher Loftus, thirty seven were left to die in the street.

We will have team news and a full match report with exclusive pics, stats, ratings and much more tomorrow before and after the game.

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