Swansea City

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Vitor Matos says Swansea City will consider sending Bobby Wales out on loan before the transfer window closes.

Wales, 20, has made only five substitute appearances for Swansea since joining the Championship club from Kilmarnock last summer.

But three of those appearances have come since Christmas, with Swansea's attacking options limited by the loss of Adam Idah to a significant hamstring injury.

With former Celtic frontman Idah out until March, Matos says Swansea must weigh up whether they could be caught short if they allow Wales to move in search of regular game-time.

"It's a decision that needs to be made regarding what is best for Bobby's development and what is the best at the same time in terms of depth of the squad," said the Swansea head coach.

"Both things need to be put it on the table and then we can make the best decision for everyone.

"I think Bobby has a lot of qualities. I like him a lot. Of course he's an age where playing is important to keep his development [going].

"At the same time we need to think regarding the depth of the squad."

Swansea remain interested in strengthening their squad before the transfer window closes next Monday, though Matos said Wales' position does not depend on whether another new face comes in.

The Swans have signed defender Joel Ward and winger Gustavo Nunes this month, while Ollie Cooper has returned from a loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

Their only significant departure so far was Kaelan Casey, who was recalled from his loan spell in Wales by West Ham United.

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Aimar Govea has returned to Swansea City after the winger's loan spell with Girona B was cut short.

Govea joined the Spanish side last August in a deal which included an option to buy.

But the 19-year-old is now back with Swansea after what the Championship club described as an "injury-hit time" with Girona.

Govea has made five substitute appearances for Swansea, all of which came under Luke Williams in the second half of 2023-24.

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Head coach Vitor Matos says handing homegrown youngsters a chance in the senior side is "part of the project" at Swansea City.

Matos is aware of the success Swansea have had with academy products since the club's relegation from the Premier League eight years ago, with the likes of Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts, Daniel James and Oli McBurnie flourishing after coming through the club's ranks.

There are others who remain among Swansea's squad, such as Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper and club captain Ben Cabango.

Matos says he and Swansea's ownership share a desire to ensure more players graduate from the youth ranks to his Championship team.

"I think it's quite clear that there's a pathway that the club wants to create, there's a culture that the club wants to create and the academy is a big part of that," the Portuguese said.

"I think it's only possible to have a proper healthy club when the academy is one of the major, let's say sources, for the first-team squad. That's something we want.

"There's a lot of examples that I don't need to mention here that came from the academy. That's the part of the project, that's of the culture of this club."

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Sam Parker is another academy graduate in Matos' squad, while the likes of Cameron Congreve, Ben Lloyd and Filip Lissah – who are currently out on loan - have made senior debuts in recent seasons.

Having downgraded their academy from elite-level category one status – which they had held for four years - to category two in 2020 in order to cut costs, Swansea are hoping some of those players can emulate the likes of Cabango and Cullen by becoming first-team regulars.

Matos says he "will look inside" the club, at the under-21 side and even the under-18s, before transfer decisions are made at senior level.

There have been some encouraging signs in this season's FA Youth Cup, with Swansea's under-18s winning away at Leeds United – a category one club – last week to book their place in round five.

The Swans' youngsters will now take on Blackburn Rovers – who won 8-1 at Coventry City in round four – with the date of the tie to be confirmed.

"[I am] really happy for the academy, really happy for the kids," Matos said.

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Josh Ginnelly has found a new club almost five months after ending his injury-hit spell at Swansea City.

Winger Ginnelly left Swansea by mutual consent in early September having seen his spell in Wales ruined by fitness troubles.

The former Hearts player made only 12 Swansea appearances – scoring two goals – thanks largely to a ruptured Achilles suffered in September 2023.

But the 28-year-old now has the chance to revive his career after signing for Turan Tovuz, who are third in the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City were left licking wounds after defeat at Hull City, though it would be wrong to suggest they were mauled by the Tigers.

Swansea were beaten narrowly on Humberside despite doing enough to take something from an entertaining game against Sergej Jakirovic's in-form side.

Vitor Matos' team were undone by uncharacteristic errors, with Ben Cabango's handball presenting Hull with the opening goal and Zan Vipotnik – who has been lethal this season – missing not one but two golden opportunities to score.

Matos will feel confident that Cabango will not give away another penalty like that for a while, and that Vipotnik will get back to taking any big chances that come his way.

It is now five defeats in six away matches for Swansea under Matos, a run of results which contrasts sharply with their excellent home form.

The good news for the Swans is that there are some encouraging signs.

Matos' players came away from Hull feeling they should not have been beaten, as was the case after last month's losses at Coventry and Stoke.

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Whilst there are no points handed out for decent performances, the statistics suggest Swansea are at least making progress on the road.

In four of their six away games since Matos took charge – at Hull, Oxford, Coventry and Stoke - Swansea's xG has been higher than that of their hosts.

In the eight away fixtures this season prior to Matos' appointment, Swansea's xG was higher than that of their opponent only once, at Sheffield Wednesday in August.

Matos' Swansea's average xG on their travels is just under 1.1, up from 0.7 when he arrived.

The next challenge, of course, is to convert that progress into more positive results away from the Swansea.com Stadium, with the next opportunity coming at Watford next weekend.

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Vitor Matos leapt to the defence of Ben Cabango and Zan Vipotnik after the duo were in the spotlight for the wrong reasons during Swansea City's defeat at Hull City.

The Tigers went in front through an Oli McBurnie penalty after Swansea captain Cabango inexplicably handled as he attempted to clear Amir Hazdiahmetovic's free-kick.

Vipotnik, the Championship's leading scorer, then missed two golden chances to level before Hull extended their lead before half-time through Regan Slater.

Liam Cullen did pull a goal back after the break, but Swansea could not conjure an equaliser despite a spirited display.

"That is what happens in this game. There are a lot of hurdles in life. Today was one and we need to keep pushing," said Swansea head coach Matos.

When asked about Cabango's error, Matos added: "It's like all the situations that sometimes happen. Ben is a leader. In the tough moments, he has stood up for all of us.

"The most important thing is to analyse the situation, not the individual - how we got deep, how they broke the press, how they got the foul, how we were positioned to defend that set-piece."

Vipotnik's misses came as a shock given his fine form in front of goal this season.

"It can happen," Matos said. "There is no-one more unhappy than him at the moment.

"Vipi (Vipotnik) has given so much to us, not only goals, but in terms of hard work and we are really pleased to have him.

"He knows he has all the tools to get over that and score again."

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Vitor Matos insists there is no change in approach on the road from Swansea City despite the sharp contrast between their home and away form.

Swansea go in search of a rare travelling success when they take on high-flying Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Matos' team have been in fine form on their own ground, taking 16 points from the past 18 on offer.

But in five away games since Matos took charge, Swansea have suffered four defeats and managed only one win, at lowly Oxford United.

"The approach is the same, the mentality is the same," Matos said.

"It needs to be if you want to be a team who reach the standards we want. I think that's quite important, to have this consistency in terms of behaviour.

"We want to press wherever we go, we want to be dominant wherever we go, then it's more about how the game is by itself."

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Hull, who are set to be spearheaded by former Swan Oli McBurnie, have been one of the Championship's surprise packages so far this season.

The fourth-placed Tigers, who scored a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Swansea in September, have won seven of their past 10 league games to put themselves in automatic promotion contention.

"It's a good team, really well organised, 4-3-3," Matos said.

"[They have] good players, Oli, Liam [Millar] as well who was in the Liverpool academy when I was there.

"They are really competitive, really dangerous with the ball… It's game where we need to be focused for 90 minutes and to do really well with and without the ball."

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A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

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Vitor Matos says Swansea City could do more business during the mid-season transfer window following the signing of winger Gustavo Nunes.

Brazilian Nunes, 20, is in contention to make his debut at Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) having joined on loan from Brentford for the remainder of the season.

He is Swansea's second January addition after Joel Ward but, with further exits also a possibility, Matos says there "could be" more incomings before the window closes on Monday, 2 February.

Swansea are keen to cut short Manuel Benson's season-long loan from Burnley, while central defender Ricardo Santos is being tipped to leave this month.

Swansea have already lost Kaelan Casey after he was recalled by West Ham, meaning they are short on centre-back options.

"It is just one month of a window, everything happens too fast, everything can change in one moment," said Swansea head coach Matos.

"What we try as a club is to find the really good deals, the best ones we can have with the conditions that we have.

"The most important thing is that we set up already the profile and what we really need. If that then becomes an opportunity on the market, we will go for that. And if not, we are fine because I'm really happy with the squad."

Swansea have confirmed the departures of two youngsters, with goalkeeper Evan Watts and defender Arthur Parker joining League of Ireland side Galway United on loan until the end of June.

They follow in the footsteps of Josh Thomas, who agreed a six-month loan at Derry City earlier this week.

Hull City will seek a third successive league win when they welcome Swansea City to the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Victories over Southampton and fellow top six side Preston North End have left the Tigers safely within the play-off places, five points above seventh placed Watford but trailing second placed Middlesbrough by the same figure.

The Swans are also undefeated across their past two (W1 D1) and held their hosts to a 2-2 draw when the two sides met on the Welsh side of the border back in September.

• Hull City have won just one of their last seven league games against Swansea City (D3 L3), triumphing 2-1 in December 2024.

• Swansea City have lost nine of their last 14 away league games against Hull City (W2 D3), a run which has seen the Swans net multiple goals in just two of those matches.

• Hull City have won six of their last eight league games (D1 L1). Indeed, no Championship side has won more points than the Tigers since the start of this run in December (19).

• Swansea have lost six of their last seven away league games (W1). Since November 5th, no side has lost more Championship matches on the road than the Swans.

• Hull's Oliver McBurnie – who has scored in his last two league games against Swansea – has scored 10 goals in an English league season for the third time in his career, after 2018-19 (22) and 2022-23 (13).

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Swansea City's Josh Tymon has won December's Championship goal of the month award for his stunning volley in the win over Oxford United.

The left-back beat off competition from Leicester City's Abdul Fatawu, Stoke City's Ben Pearson and Sheffield United's Patrick Bamford to win the prize thanks to his spectacular 20-yard strike, which helped Swansea secure the first win of Vitor Matos' reign.

"It's a once in a career strike - if he tried it 1,000 times that might be the only one that finds the net in that way," said lead goal of the month judge and pundit Don Goodman.

"Great adjustment of the body as the ball drops, amazing technique as he strikes it by cutting across the ball with his volley guiding it like an arrow into the top corner."

Former Stoke player Tymon described the goal as the "best I've scored in my career".

"I'm enjoying my football, the way we play under the gaffer means I am getting into those sorts of positions a bit more often and it was great to contribute a goal in an important win," he added.

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Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos says he had a "really cordial" chat with predecessor Alan Sheehan – after they met on their street.

Matos took charge at Swansea in late November after Sheehan was sacked earlier in the month.

Sheehan, who is still living in the Welsh city with his family, revealed while working as a TV pundit on Swansea's draw with Birmingham City last weekend that Matos has moved into his street.

Matos says the duo have since bumped into each other once and are "good neighbours".

"We speak as normal neighbours speak and not about football really," the Portuguese added.

"Let's say football is one important thing in our lives, in your lives as well, my life as well, his life as well, but it's not the major important thing.

"I think when human beings can speak as normal, that's the most important thing. Everything is fine - no big problems between neighbours!

"I wish him all the best and he knows that as well."

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Zeidane Inoussa is facing a spell on the sidelines due to a back injury while Ethan Galbraith is also a doubt for Saturday's trip to Hull City (15:00 GMT).

Winger Inoussa missed Swansea's midweek win over Blackburn Rovers because of a stress fracture in his back and will see a specialist for further assessment of the problem.

The news is better for Galbraith, who came off during the Blackburn game with a knee issue which Vitor Matos says is "nothing serious."

However, Swansea may have to do without the influential Northern Ireland international on Humberside this weekend.

"Ethan got a knock in the Birmingham game and a knock on the same place in the last game," said Swansea boss Matos.

"He is still being assessed with the medical team. We have one more day to see how it develops [before Hull]. We need to wait for that day."

Matos says Swansea are waiting for "a more clear answer" on how long Swedish winger Inoussa faces on the sidelines.

"He's consulting a specialist," he added.

"It sounds like he will be not available for the next game and not for other games as well. We need to have a more clear view regarding what's the future for him."

Swansea striker Adam Idah is out until March with a hamstring problem but defender Ishe Samuels-Smith could return next week after a groin injury.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea boss Vitor Matos believes the "mentality" of his side was the most promising aspect of their 3-1 win over struggling Blackburn Rovers in what he described as a "tricky" encounter at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Having played just two days earlier, Matos felt the challenge posed by Blackburn on Tuesday would "never [be] easy", particularly given Valerien Ismael's tactical approach.

"Playing against a team that is a different structure, a back five and man marking means a lot of things that can be tricky, but we found a way and I think that's important for creating the mentality we want," he said.

Swansea went in level at half-time, but Matos was encouraged by his side's response believing their second-half display showed a "team that wants to be dominant" and "not easy to play against".

"We want that aggressiveness," he said.

"It was not the prettiest one to watch, but it was important in terms of togetherness and mindset. It's important when you are not on your best day that you find a way still to compete. And that's what we saw."

Vipotnik continued his good run of scoring by notching two goals either side of half-time to become the second tier's leading goal-scorer.

Even so Swansea managed only four shots on target from 14 attempts and registering an xG of just 1.4 according to Opta, Matos felt the collective element of the performance was key.

However, Matos also insists "there is still a lot to come" both from Vipotnik and from his team overall.

"The team is feeding him," said Matos. "That collective part is very important for every striker."

The victory moved Swansea eight points clear of the relegation zone and to within seven points of the play-off places, while also extending their strong home form to four wins in their last five matches at the Swansea.com Stadium.

It is an achievement Matos says is vital in rebuilding connections between supporters and players.

"It's important that you build a connection with the fans. Seeing everyone enjoying the game and finding a way to support the team is beautiful to see," Matos said.

Swansea, who have only tasted defeat once in the league in 2026, travel to Hull City on Saturday 24 January, who themselves will be looking for their third consecutive win.

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All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

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Ethan Galbraith is to be "assessed" after being substituted in Swansea City's 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old left the field in the 66th minute after feeling "uncomfortable" but Swansea boss Vitor Matos said the substitution was just a "precaution".

"He had a knock against Birmingham and on the same spot he started to feel uncomfortable," Matos said.

"We didn't want to risk it, so that's what happened - just a precaution."

Galbraith has been an influential member of Matos' Swansea side and has appeared in every league game this season.

Matos has previously praised Galbraith's versatility having utilised him in both midfield and defence.

Swansea, who climbed to 15th in the Championship courtesy of the Blackburn win, are back in action at high-flying Hull City on Saturday.