The training ground around Fairwood and Landore will be a lot quieter until a whole host of full internationals and age grade players return to the fold by Thursday morning at the latest.

It’s been an inconvenience for some to see Swansea City fixtures halted (there’s more to come in November) and for others who love following the Wales international side it’s been a wonderful experience as we look forwards to a massive World Cup Qualifier game at home v Belgium tomorrow evening (7:45pm)

⚽️ First let’s look at the missing ten first team players over the international break.

1. Ben Cabango — Wales (senior).
2. Liam Cullen — Wales (senior).
3. Lawrence Vigouroux — Chile (senior).
4. Žan Vipotnik — Slovenia (senior).
5. Adam Idah — Republic of Ireland (senior).
6. Ethan Galbraith — Northern Ireland (senior).
7. Cameron Burgess — Australia (senior).
8. Marko Stamenic — New Zealand (senior).
9. Eom Ji-sung — South Korea (senior).
10. Manuel Benson — Angola (senior).

We move on to the age grade sides and believe this is the whole compliment selected, any changes etc … Just let us know below. This brings the overall commitment from under 15 to senior side to 26 players.

⚽️ Wales U21
• Evan Watts (Swansea City — on loan at Galway United).
• Joel Cotterill (Swansea City).
• Cameron Congreve (Swansea City — loan status noted in FAW release).
• Sam Parker (Swansea City).
• Ben Lloyd (Swansea City — loan status noted in FAW release).

⚽️ Wales U19
• Harlan Perry (Swansea City).
• Thomas Woodward (Swansea City).
• Kit Margetson (Swansea City).

⚽️ Wales U17
• Milo Robinson (Swansea City).
• Kaven Bloniarczyk (Swansea City).
• Kai Rhodes (Swansea City).
• Isaac Dudding (Swansea City).

⚽️ Wales U15
• Bobby Lewis (Swansea City).
• Theo Harrington (Swansea City).
• Nioll Siwela (Swansea City).
• Rio Hassan (Swansea City).

There is no other Championship club with as many senior international call ups than the Swans. Not even Southampton or Ipswich come close. Interestingly Swansea City have more international senior call ups than the other Welsh team in the English pyramid. We have to give a nod to Cardiff City though as they are contributing at under 18 level for Wales. In time we do see more involvement from Cardiff in 2026. The Swans recent change in transfer policy has seen no Wales internationals recruited, but it has rocketed internationally reflecting a more diverse squad.

⚽️ What are the positives for Swansea City ?
The inclusion of players in the Chile, Australian, New Zealand, South Korea, Angolan, Northern Ireland and Republic Of Ireland squads gives a bigger world view on the Swans. Supporters of these countries are finding Swansea City (the most successful Welsh club this century) as either a new experience or as we have seen in Northern Ireland and then Republic an increased interest in the club is pretty big. Commercially this is a boon, and with the addition of Snoop Dogg and Luke Modrić as interested investors the global appeal is far higher in 2025. The club owners will be delighted with this especially as Melker Widell and Zeidane Inoussa are forging their way into the Swedish senior side. Widell has one cap and once he settles we think Inoussa will be another full cap in time.

⚽️ And the negatives (to an extent)
If there is a lack of positivity - fans will believe that with so many players away (especially those with New Zealand and Australia) Stamenic and Burgess won’t be ready for assessment until Thursday this week. Australia have beaten Canada away and take on the USA away on Wednesday. Both are friendlies. New Zealand also have two friendlies having been defeated in Poland 1-0 and face Norway on Tuesday. Both Burgess and Stamenic are key players for their countries. We could go on but having spoken to managers in the past, in fact way back to the Roger Freestone era when he earned his Welsh cap against Brazil in 2000. Phil Sumbler and I both started our connections in the game back then with a variety of players and managers, and for me they very much continue today.

The overall view is that managers aren’t that enamoured with losing so many players each international break. Over the three consecutive months this season (Sept,Oct,Nov) six weeks are lost and it is considered disruptive. Key players are not available for training as we can see in the Swans case, yes managers get closer to those squad players that don’t get selected every week but in Sheehan’s position when it comes to tactical training it doesn’t work. He is pulling together a squad of players that are to date inconsistent and without these key players to train, motivate, advise and implement strategies it can hardly be helpful. We have been told this on numerous occasions from every Swansea manager since those days we mention, and although Sheehan hasn’t been canvassed we know he will come up with certain negatives. Of course he supports his players 100% when they are selected for their national sides and it’s a great honour for them and the club but travelling around the world for friendlies is hardly helpful.

Swings and roundabouts for some, but in the main football fans most certainly are club minded no matter the team they support. We do fall down on the side of international football, purely because there is opportunity for our country to be involved in major competitions, can anyone take away those memories from 2016 in France ?

The players see their selection for their international side as the peak of their success as a player. In the main that is. There have been anomalies even for Wales, but it is a marker of their career success.

Let us know on our forum or below.

Photographs : Swansea City AFC & already licensed Reuters

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