Sheehan hails 'top-class' Forest boss Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou guided Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory last season

Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan says he is "excited" by the challenge of facing Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou in the EFL Cup.

Championship side Swansea host Premier League club Forest in a third-round tie on Wednesday (20:00 BST).

Postecoglou, 60, is seeking a first win since succeeding Nuno Espirito Santo as Forest boss having lost 3-0 at Arsenal in his first game in charge last weekend.

Irishman Sheehan, 39, is full of praise for his Australian counterpart, who won five trophies at Celtic and last season's Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur.

"He's a top-class manager," said Sheehan.

"I've seen his teams play, my staff have seen his teams play at Spurs. They won a trophy there, they were exceptional in the first year in the league. He knows how to win - it's a good habit.

"With Celtic [it was] the very same, a very good way of playing. A manager that has been there and done it, so it's a good test for me to come up against somebody with that level of experience."

Sheehan accepts that Forest's players are still adapting to life under Postecoglou but still expects a certain style and approach from the Australian's team.

Forest could make changes with a Europa League campaign to look forward to this season.

Their opening game in that competition is away to Real Betis on Wednesday, 24 September, while they go to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.

"It'll be a very competitive game whoever they pick," added Sheehan.

"Even if you look at their bench, they've got individuals that are worth millions of pounds, they've got a lot of individual quality.

"These teams in the Premier League, there's massive levels right now between us, even the teams that go from the Championship to the Premier League.

"So we've got to respect them but the best way to respect these teams is to go up against them and see how far we are away."