Swansea City boss Steve Cooper has delivered the latest injury news ahead of the game against Birmingham City on Sunday.
Fresh from the win over QPR in midweek, Cooper is expecting a real test against the Blues during the midday kick-off in Landore.
He said of Pep Clotet's side: "They’ve had a good start in terms of points.
"It’s going to be very different to QPR in terms of how they play. We’ve got to be a team that can adapt to different situations. They will play a different formation and style. They’re a real threat off set-pieces."
Cooper confirmed that he is likely to have the same squad available to him that travelled to Loftus Road.
He added: "It's pretty much the same squad available. Players are only reporting as we speak. We haven’t had the full medical report but I’ll be surprised if there’s any new news.
"Tom Carroll is back in the mix, he started a game for the first time on Monday against Aston Villa. I’m not too sure if he’ll be ready to play in terms of minutes but he’s close to being ready."
Read every word of the boss' quotes below.
Youngsters done so well?
Definitely. We have fantastic facilities and staff and an academy with category one status. That’s what the aim is. To get first-team players in they have to get an opportunity. I do believe in giving young players opportunities, but they have to be good enough. They’ve got to earn it and play at a really good level. We’re not going to miss many U23 games this season, especially the home ones. We’re not going to be handing out opportunities, players have to earn it, and if they do there’ll be opportunities.
The proof is in the pudding when you see the team play and a couple have moved on, you’ve got to be proud of that. But it’s about who’s next, that has to be the mentality. By seeing players play or getting moves, it gives the younger players hope and it allows the messages that the coach is giving, it makes them more believable. It’s not just the academy’s responsibility, we’ve got to work with them as well.
Possible exits?
A couple of younger players will hopefully get some loans in the next couple of days. Nothing that will unrest the first team squad in terms of numbers. We’re a club that wants to provide the right pathway for young players and loans can do that. That will be positive when the young players come back.
Clubs want them after good starts?
You can look at it both ways. They look happy and motivated, and you can say that would mean they’d want to carry on with Swansea so you can look at it however you want.
Ayew/Borja - any update?
There is no update in terms of potential movement. I have said previously, we will continue to work with them boys, as everyone else, day in day out in terms of preparing for games and developing how we want to play. They’re big players, they’re happy and are working hard
13 unbeaten at home in league?
It’s a good record and it means the players are confident and the fans are getting behind the team. It’s not just a matter of turning up and thinking we’re going to win because of the previous 13 games. That’ll be our focus, getting the mindset right. It’s been a hectic period but we’re coming through it fine. We enjoy being at home but we need to earn the right to get the performance and result
Birmingham?
They’ve had a good start in terms of points. It’s going to be very different to QPR in terms of how they play. We’ve got to be a team that can adapt to different situations. They will play a different formation and style. They’re a real threat off set-pieces
Where can improve?
We haven’t played brilliantly in the first half of the two home games, and that’s credit to the opposition. We have to be better and overcome that. That’s definitely a challenge for us. I would like to keep more clean sheets, there’s no doubt about that. Birmingham are going to offer certain threats so we want to be good at particular things in games. It’s just that mentality of striving to be better than where we’re at.
More to come?
Definitely. We’ll always strive to get better and we did challenge the players about that for the game against QPR. We knew it was going to be a football match with both teams wanting to play a technical game, so I wanted us to be better than QPR, and I thought we were in the first half. At times we had to defend but we handled that and looked a really good threat and got another two goals. We’re happy with how we’re playing but there’s lots we can get better at for longer periods of the game.
I feel like we’re progressing and we’re applying the right intentions.
Surprised by start?
We’ve picked up points. It’s only a good start if you keep adding points to it and that is all we want to do. The players are confident but they were confident all through pre-season as well. We just want to get the most out of each day, including matchdays.
Better than you thought?
I think we can play well and win any game. That isn’t always the case because football isn’t easy but we’ve got into every game knowing with our play, if we get it right we can win the game. There’s no point setting up negatively or playing for draws, the way we play.
10 points?
We do believe in what we’re doing in terms of how we want to play and how we want to prepare for games. The moment you start looking beyond the next game is where you don’t get it right. We’ll be absolutely ready. We just want to be focused on what we’re in control of.
Kalulu
He had a kick on the ankle, it was a nasty challenge from behind. He’s struggled with it to be honest.
Dyer / Kalulu?
He wasn’t available the other day through injury (Kalulu). They’ve been doing rehab. Tom Carroll is back in the mix, he started a game for the first time on Monday against Aston Villa. I’m not too sure if he’ll be ready to play in terms of minutes but he’s close to being ready.
Team news
Pretty much the same squad available. Players are only reporting as we speak. We haven’t had the full medical report but I’ll be surprised if there’s any new news.
30-minute warning
The boss will be with us in about half an hour.
Any questions we can put to him afterwards? Tweet us @SwanseaCityLive
Garrick impact
Could we be seeing a bit more of Jordon Garrick at the weekend?
The live wire was bright as a button when he came on against the Hoops at Loftus Road - a genuinely game-changing performance. Cooper is obviously a fan of the youngster and it would be great to see him get some minutes on Sunday.
Here we chart his rapid rise and the influence he exerted on the match in West London.
Sanches on the move
It seems Renato Sanches is on the move again, this time permanently.
He is a £25m target for Lille - and it sounds like his stay with Bayern has ended on a sour note.
Later time
We usually hear from the boss around 1.30pm on press days, but we kick off at the slightly later time of 2pm this afternoon.
Even more time together - we really do spoil you.
Borja stats
Borja’s renaissance has been quite incredible.
We’ve dug out the stats behind his Swansea return - and revealed why one fan in particular wants him to do well.
Good afternoon
Hello, and welcome to this afternoon’s coverage of Steve Cooper’s Birmingham City presser.
It has been a dream start to the season for Swansea, who will be keen to extend their run against the Blues on Sunday.
And with the club offering kids for a quid, and it being a bank holiday, it should be a cracker.
Stay tuned.
