Garry Monk: Swansea City braced for absent Ki and Wilfried Bony

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Ki Sung-yuengImage source, PA
Image caption,

Ki Sung-yueng joined Swansea from Celtic on a three-year deal in August 2012

Garry Monk says Swansea will not sign replacements to fill in for Ki Sung-yueng and Wilfried Bony in January.

Ki will captain South Korea at the Asian Cup whilst Bony will play for the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

The pair could miss as many as six games after the game at QPR on New Year's Day.

"When Bony and Ki are out for that period it's for someone to step up to that level," Monk said.

"We've got a very good squad and I'm not going to be making wholesale changes at all.

"There are certain positions we will look to strengthen and if we can get the right player to fit into the squad that's the only time I'll do business.

"Other than that we'll go with what we've got.

"I've got full confidence in the squad right now and it's just adding quality to accompany what we've got."

Midfielder Ki, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, has been an ever-present in the Premier League this campaign.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wilfried Bony scored twice for the Ivory Coast at the 2014 World Cup

Striker Bony is top scorer with eight goals so far this season and signed a one-year contract extension with the Swans in November.

Swansea go into Saturday's Premier League game at Hull City having lost their previous two games against West Ham away and at home to Tottenham.

Monk's side lost 1-0 at Hull in April and they have failed to score on their three previous visits to the KC Stadium.

Hull have won only once at home all season go into Saturday's game against ninth-placed Swansea, having not won a Premier League match since their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on 4 October.

"Every team in this league is a different challenge, the way they set up and the different personnel and styles they have," Monk said.

"It's getting your team to concentrate on themselves but adjust enough to know where the threats are from the other team.

"I would imagine they're looking at this game to turn around their form.

"They've got a very experienced manager who will be looking at how to get them back to winning ways and we expect a very difficult game.

"Hull will be different to what we've played before, so the challenge for us is to perform well enough to take the points."

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