'Talisman' Cullen returns as Swans eye free agent

Liam Cullen, Swansea's leading scorer this season, is due to join up with Wales next week after recovering from illness

Championship: Swansea City v Stoke City

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium Date: Saturday, 5 October Kick off: 15:00 BST

Coverage: BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, plus live updates on the website and app

Luke Williams has described Liam Cullen as “something of a talisman” for Swansea City with the striker set to return against Stoke City on Saturday.

Wales international Cullen will give Swansea a much-needed attacking option after missing the last two games through illness.

Williams has revealed the Championship club are poised to take a free agent – who is thought likely to be an attacking player - on trial next week.

Cullen, who has scored three goals in seven appearances this season, has lost some weight through illness, but is in contention to face the Potters at the Swansea.com Stadium.

“He’s top for us and he’s a top guy,” said Swansea head coach Williams.

“I was really upset to lose him because he has been something of a talisman for us. It’s very good to have him back.”

Though the transfer window is closed until January, clubs can sign players who are not tied to other clubs at any stage.

Swansea signed winger Yannick Bolasie when he was without a club last November, and the Welsh side could do something similar this autumn.

Williams has been monitoring the free-agent market after Swansea failed to bring in the attacking player he wanted before the summer window closed in August.

"Potentially we're having a look at a player in the international break, when it's a bit calmer,” he said.

Luke Williams' Swansea are yet to lose at home in the Championship this season

“As I've said before, the landscape has changed and more players will be able to sit and wait for a good opportunity, because many of the players at the level are secure, I think it's fair to say, financially.

“They're not rushing out to take any contracts, so there are free agents out there we can tap into. I think that's something that potentially could happen.”

With Cullen missing, summer recruit Zan Vipotnik, who has scored once this season, led the Swansea line in the draw with Bristol City last weekend.

At Sheffield United in midweek, the job of leading the line went to Myles Peart-Harris, who was brought in on loan from Brentford just before the August deadline as an attacking midfielder.

Swansea are 12th in the Championship having made an encouraging start to the season, though their early successes have been based more on an impressive defensive record than attacking prowess.

Swansea have conceded only six goals so far, a record bettered by just four teams in the division.

But only two teams, 21st-placed Preston North End and bottom-club Cardiff City, have scored fewer than the Swans’ eight league goals.

“The challenge is going to be maintaining that defensive strength and increasing our potency at the other end of the pitch,” Williams said.

“I feel like we are yet to see the best of Vipi (Vipotnik) and Myles Peart-Harris, for example. They joined us late and they need a bit of time, and they are young guys as well.

“I also think the likes of [Eom] Ji-Sung, Ronald, Florian [Bianchini] and Azeem [Abdulai] playing in the wide positions, I think they will become more of a goal threat as the season goes on.

“We need to find a little bit more composure in the big moments, a little bit of calmness, but I think those guys will all start to chip in with goals and assists.”