. . . boss calls for Swans to maintain tempo for Hammers test
Michael Laudrup has called on his players to pick up from where they left off at Loftus Road last weekend when they host West Ham United at the Liberty on Saturday.
The Swans produced a five-star performance in West London as they proved the doubters wrong by chalking up a 5-0 win against QPR.
Attention now turns to Saturday as the squad prepare for their first home game of the new season with Sam Allardyce’s side the visitors to SA1.
The Hammers marked their return to the top-flight with a 1-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend, and Swans boss Laudrup predicts a tough test for his side.
“Last Saturday was great and it was pleasing to score five goals away from home on the first day of the season,” he said. “But our next game is now just 48 hours away and it’s a very important one.
“We now have two home games in a row and it’s crucial that we do well at the Liberty because that is where the majority of our points will come from this season.
“West Ham will be a difficult opponent. They did well last season to come back up to the Premier League and they have an experienced manager in Sam Allardyce.
“They had a good win last weekend, but we will be looking to pick up from where we left off against QPR.”
Laudrup confirmed that summer signing Chico Flores missed training on Thursday after suffering from a knock picked up against QPR, with the medical team assessing his chances of featuring against West Ham.
Also a doubt for the televised lunchtime kick-off is Itay Schechter following a delay with the paperwork regarding the striker’s loan move from Kaiserslautern.
However, the Swans boss revealed that Scott Sinclair would be in contention to start at the weekend following his goal last weekend.
The winger has confirmed he will not sign a new contract at the Liberty, but Laudrup says that while Sinclair remains a Swansea player, there are no problems from his point of view.
“There has never been an issue with Scott,” he said. “After seeing him in training I have no problems with putting him in the squad, and he’ll be available on Saturday.
“But while he is here he is 100% committed to Swansea City and that is important for us.”
One player that the Swans have been linked with is midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, and chairman Huw Jenkins revealed on Wednesday that a fee had been agreed with Celtic for the South Korea international.
And Laudrup declared that the 23-year-old would be an impressive acquisition for the club if the transfer could be completed.
“He would be an important player for us, and give us strength in depth,” he said. “He’s a strong, dynamic midfielder and we’ll be happy if we get him.
“He will fit into our style of play and that’s very important.”