Swansea City

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He has not played a league game for Swansea City in one-and-a-half seasons, but Andy Fisher may be about to get busy at new club St Johnstone.

Luke Williams has sanctioned Fisher's loan move to Scotland in the hope that the former MK Dons goalkeeper will get regular game-time in a St Johnstone shirt.

Assuming he plays, Fisher is likely to have plenty of work to do given that St Johnstone have the worst defence in the Scottish Premiership this season.

They have conceded 44 goals in 22 league games, which goes some way to explaining why Simo Valakari's team are bottom of the table and in danger of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 2009.

Fisher spent last season as understudy to Carl Rushworth, who shone during a season-long loan from Brighton.

He has not even made the bench at Swansea since returning from a groin injury suffered in pre-season, with Jon McLaughlin – who was signed as cover after Fisher had surgery – serving as back-up to Lawrence Vigouroux so far in 2024-25.

With his contract up in 2026, Fisher's role at Swansea may be on the agenda again come the end of this season.

But the first task for the 26-year-old, who made just two cup appearances in 2023-24, is to play some football at St Johnstone.

"I am eager to play some games and to prove myself," Fisher told the Perth club's website.

"I am hoping to show everyone what I can do and it is going to be a good challenge."

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Swansea City goalkeeper Andy Fisher has joined Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone on loan for the remainder of the season.

Fisher is yet to play in 2024-25 having suffered a groin injury in pre-season which required surgery.

Lawrence Vigouroux has established himself as Swansea's first-choice goalkeeper this season, with Jon McLaughlin serving as his understudy.

McLaughlin is out of contract this month but Swansea are keen to extend his deal.

St Johnstone are currently bottom of Scotland's top flight.

Fisher, 26, is under contract at Swansea until 2026.

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Nelson Abbey has joined Portuguese top-flight side Rio Ave on loan for the remainder of the season following his early departure from Swansea City.

Defender Abbey, 21, had been due to spend the whole season with Swansea, but was recalled by Olympiakos last week having made only one appearance for the Welsh club.

Now the former Reading player will hope to get more game-time at Rio Ave, where he joins fellow English players Jonathan Panzo and Omar Richards, who are both on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Forest and Rio Ave, like Olympiakos, are owned by Evangelos Marinakis.

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Cyrus Christie will aim to retain his Swansea City place at Southampton on Sunday having ended a year-long wait for a start in last weekend's draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Christie, 32, has made seven Swansea appearances since rejoining the Welsh club for a second spell in November.

But Christie's opportunities had come exclusively from the bench until Ben Cabango's groin injury saw the Republic of Ireland international picked alongside Harry Darling in central defence against the Baggies.

Christie was released by Hull City last summer having made his last start for the Tigers in a defeat at Bristol City on 22 December, 2023.

He made only six further substitute appearances last season thanks in part to a hamstring injury.

Since returning to Swansea, he has had to be patient because of the form of Cabango, Darling and full-backs Josh Key and Josh Tymon.

"Thirteen months out with injuries, operations and frustrating setbacks, but gave it everything to be back doing what I love most," Christie said on social media.

"It was an honour to be back out on the pitch from the start for Swansea City. A deserved, hard-fought point against a strong side. On to a big FA Cup fixture."

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Luke Williams has saluted Goncalo Franco following the midfielder's rapid return to action from a serious facial injury.

Franco suffered a broken jaw and damage to four teeth during Swansea's win over Luton Town on 29 December.

He missed Swansea's defeat at Portsmouth on New Year's Day – but was back in the starting side for last Saturday's draw with West Bromwich Albion.

That was despite the fact that Franco, who has established himself as a fans' favourite at Swansea following his move from Moreierense last summer, has been avoiding solid foods because of the damage caused by a collision with Luton defender Mark McGuinness.

"He has got a very soft diet at the moment, I can tell you that much, because his teeth are moving back into their previous accommodation," said Swansea head coach Williams.

"But he's a warrior. I am enjoying watching him develop and I am really proud of him.

"The fact that he went back on the pitch [against Luton] was incredible. [It was] ridiculous really, but he's a warrior and you can't put that into someone."

There will be more recovery time for Franco this week as Swansea prepare for an FA Cup third-round tie at Southampton on Sunday.

It may be that the Portuguese is rested at St Mary's Stadium, particularly with a trip to rivals Cardiff City to come next in the Championship on Saturday, 18 January.

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Brentford have taken up an option in Myles Peart-Harris' contract which means he is tied to the Premier League club until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Peart-Harris is on loan at Swansea City until the end of this campaign, when his Bees deal had been due to expire.

But Brentford have revealed they have decided to extend the 22-year-old's contract by a further 12 months.

Former Chelsea youngster Peart-Harris was signed by Swansea as an attacking midfielder, but has been regularly deployed out wide by Luke Williams.

He has played 23 Championship games, including 10 starts, and scored two goals.

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Swansea City have begun bucking a trend by scoring crucial stoppage-time goals in two of their past three games.

Too often in recent memory, the writing has been on the wall for Swansea when they have fallen behind in games.

But Luke Williams' team have shown of late that they can change that particular story.

In the 2024-25 season, it was not until 30 November, when Swansea trailed 2-0 at home to Portsmouth, but ended up drawing 2-2, that Williams' men gained a point having been behind.

They went a step further on 29 December, coming back to win for the first time in the Williams era – courtesy of Myles Peart-Harris' added-time goal - having conceded early on against Luton Town.

And there was further evidence of new-found powers of recovery as Joe Allen's 92nd-minute header earned Swansea a point against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.

Williams feels there is now a confidence - which was not there earlier in the campaign - that his team can fight their way back into matches.

"Earlier in the season in the later stages of games, if we weren't level with the opposition or winning, it often felt like we were getting weaker or losing belief," the Swansea head coach said.

"But if we want to be a really good side, you have to be able to stick in the game for 90 minutes, especially in the Championship."

Loyalty counts for nothing - Tudur Jones

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Luke Williams would have been "silly" to completely shut down speculation linking him with West Bromwich Albion, according to Owain Tudur Jones.

The former Swansea midfielder says Williams could have dealt better with the rumours linking him with the vacant West Brom manager's job, which dominated headlines over the New Year period.

After Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Baggies, Williams himself admitted speculation surrounding his future became a distraction that he "handled poorly".

But Jones has sympathy with Swansea's head coach, saying managers have a right to keep their options open.

"He didn't shut it down, but I think as a manager you'd be silly to, if I'm being completely honest," the former Wales international told Radio Wales Breakfast.

"We've seen too many examples these days... I understand everybody wants loyalty and everybody wants this and that, but loyalty counts for nothing.

"As a manger you see it happen too many times the other way where you do stay and you show a little bit of loyalty, and two months down the road you've lost four in a row and you get sacked anyway.

"So I think they have to keep a door slightly ajar, just in case."

Bookmakers had made Williams favourite to replace Carlos Corberan at the Hawthorns and, having initially failed to quash rumours in media interviews, Williams eventually confirmed he was staying at Swansea.

"I think he could have dealt with it in a slightly better way," said Jones.

"Even if on reflection he would have spoken to West Brom, had he come out straight away and said 'I'm not interested...'."

Williams admitted he "created a lot of the noise without meaning to", but Jones believes too much was made of the links with West Brom.

"I think a couple of games ago when the links were there it was quite obvious that it wasn't a strong link," he said.

"I think it was a fan account of West Brom that had come out and said this and that, and we know these days, especially on social media, you don't need too much inside information to make a story up, so how much truth there was to it I'm not sure.

"Hopefully it's now water under the bridge, Swansea can move on, and they'll be grateful of that late point that they had against West Brom, who hopefully won't have Luke Williams as their new manager soon."

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Luke Williams says Swansea City need to "sort out" a new deal for Jon McLaughlin with the goalkeeper's short-term deal due to expire this month.

McLaughlin joined Swansea in August on as cover for the injured Andy Fisher.

But even after Fisher's return to fitness, 37-year-old McLaughlin has kept his place on the Swansea bench as understudy to Lawrence Vigouroux.

With McLaughlin's contract about to end, Williams wants the former Rangers man to sign an extension – and suggested he will soon be handed a Swansea debut.

"We need to sort that [contract] out pretty soon," said the Swans boss.

"He's been a very good addition to us and hopefully everyone gets to see him on the pitch in the near future."

First-choice keeper Vigouroux's starting place has recently come into question for the first time since he joined Swansea last summer due to a dip in form.

Even if the former Burnley player retains his spot in Williams' Championship side, McLaughlin could be given a chance to impress in the FA Cup tie at Southampton on Sunday, 12 January.

When asked if the Scot is pushing for a start, Williams added: "I don't see why not. He'd be more than happy to play - he's here to play."

Whoever plays in goal against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 GMT) will hope for a quieter afternoon than Vigouroux endured at Portsmouth in midweek, when Swansea suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.

They will attempt to find a response against an Albion side who remain firmly in play-off contention despite losing boss Carlos Corberan to Valencia over Christmas.

"They're a very good side, very well organised," Williams added.

"They have a very capable squad. There's no question it will be a very difficult game for us."

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Chairman Andy Coleman says speculation surrounding Luke Williams' Swansea City future has been "unhelpful".

Williams was swiftly installed as favourite with bookmakers to replace Carlos Corberan at West Bromwich Albion after the Spanish coach left the Baggies to join Valencia during the festive period.

After failing to shut down links to the Hawthorns vacancy when questioned by the media, Swansea supporters were left concerned that Williams could be leaving the club a year after joining from Notts County.

Ahead of his side's Championship fixture with West Brom on Saturday (12:30 GMT), Williams confirmed he was staying at Swansea, adding that he wanted to remain in his position for the long-term.

Writing in his pre-match programme notes ahead of the game against West Brom, Coleman said: "There has been some unhelpful speculation regarding our head coach, Luke Williams, and links to today's opponents.

"I want to assure you that Luke remains fully committed to Swansea City.

"I know that his focus is on guiding our team to success, and we are united in our efforts to achieve our goals for the season."

The American added: "As we enter the new year, there is still much to be optimistic and excited about.

"We have won our last two home games in exciting fashion, and today's match is another opportunity to showcase our ambition and determination as we continue our journey through the second half of the season."

Swansea sit 12th in the Championship ahead of the meeting with West Brom - who are six points and six places better off than the Swans.

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Swansea City will be without Ben Cabango for the first time this season when they host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 GMT) but are set to be boosted by the return of Goncalo Franco.

Wales defender Cabango had played every minute of Swansea's league campaign until he limped off with a groin problem in the second half of their 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth on New Year's Day.

Head coach Luke Williams says Cabango's injury is "very minor" but he will not be ready to face West Brom.

The good news for Swansea is that influential midfielder Franco has been declared fit despite suffering a broken jaw and damaging four teeth in last weekend's win over Luton Town.

"If he was a human it would have been a big problem," Williams joked.

"He just put his teeth back in and left the hospital with a broken jaw and decided he's fit.

"On a serious note, clinically there's a very minor risk. I imagine it's very uncomfortable and painful. But his teeth have relocated to their original place, he's tough and he's desperate to play."

Joe Allen returned to the bench at Portsmouth after a hamstring problem and is another option for Williams as Swansea look to bounce back from their heaviest loss of the season.

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Luke Williams says Swansea City cannot blame Harry Darling for assessing potential options at other clubs as uncertainty over the defender's long-term future goes on.

Swansea had hoped to persuade Darling to follow Ben Cabango's lead by signing a new long-term contract.

But Williams has acknowledged that Swansea may now have to wait until the summer – when Darling's current deal expires – to see whether he opts to sign the new deal on the table at Swansea.

"I think that's a scenario that could play out, yes," the Swansea head coach said.

Williams says Swansea are paying the price for failing to extend Darling's contract earlier, given the success the centre-back has had since joining from MK Dons on a three-year deal in 2022.

"Like I have said a couple of times before, to clarify, things were left for a long time so Harry and his agent took the responsibility to make sure they protect him and have options going forward," Williams added.

"So this is more a missed opportunity from us early on... we probably wouldn't have got to this point and Harry would have been secured already under a new long-term contract, but that wasn't the case.

"We can't blame Harry for that. He's done everything in a sensible way to protect himself and now we're playing catch-up."

Swansea have made what is thought likely to be their best offer to Darling, who has started every league game this season.

Williams revealed earlier this week that contract negotiations were being "put to bed".

Ahead of Saturday's home game against West Bromwich Albion (12:30 GMT), Williams says he is now trying to "leave Harry alone" and "not add to the pressure" surrounding his contract situation.

"I don't know exactly where he is but he's playing great on the pitch and there's no question about his commitment," he added.

"I hope we do enough together that he wants to remain here."

West Brom returned to the play-off places courtesy of a home win against Preston on Wednesday.

Despite plenty of speculation that Swans boss Luke Williams might be the man to replace Carlos Corberan in the Baggies dugout, Chris Brunt looks set to lead Albion's interim coaching team once again for Saturday's 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Williams oversaw a 4-0 humbling at Portsmouth on New Year's Day as Swansea slipped to 12th, now six points adrift of the top-six.

• Swansea City have won seven of their past nine home league meetings with West Bromwich Albion (D1 L1), including in each of the last three seasons at the Swansea.com Stadium.

• West Bromwich Albion beat Swansea 1-0 at home earlier this season, and last completed a league double over the Swans back in the 2018-19 campaign.

• Following a stoppage-time winning goal against Luton in their final game of 2024, Swansea could win three consecutive home league games for the first time since their final three such matches of the 2022-23 campaign.

• West Brom have won just one of their past 10 Championship away games (D6 L3) and have conceded first in their last three on the road (D1 L2) - this after winning their first three away matches of 2024-25.

• Gonçalo Franco is aiming to become the first non-British or Irish player to net in three consecutive home Championship appearances for Swansea City since Joel Piroe in November 2021 (five in a row).