A positive second-half showing against Huddersfield Town on Saturday was quickly overshadowed at Swansea City last weekend.
It emerged that Jamie Paterson, one of Swansea's standout performers so far this season, didn't play against the Terriers because he wasn't in the right frame of mind amid disappointment over the way his contract renewal was handled.
We are still awaiting the full facts to come out of the situation but one thing is for certain - it's an unwelcome distraction right now in a month when disruption is the byword. Swansea were already rocked by Manchester United's decision to recall Ethan Laird; they did not need a contract dispute with a key player midway through a transfer window.
The Swans now have a fortnight in which to complete further business and sort out Paterson's future.
All the while, head coach Russell Martin is keen to stress to the club's owners across the other side of the Atlantic that he wants backing this month. As he admits, he's not asking for the world.
"I think what we have is a really clear strategy of what we want to do, long-term. We're not asking for the world in January," said Martin shortly after the 1-1 draw on Saturday.
READ MORE: The frustration brewing behind the scenes at Swansea City amid Jamie Paterson stand-off
"We're really clear in what we want and how we want to do it.
"It's just hopefully about getting enough support to be able to do that, like we did with Flynn Downes, like in the summer just before we can with Joel Piroe, who is now a huge asset to the club.
"Joel will be the first to admit that he'd have maybe found the Championship tough to play in in a different team, so he's so suited to the way we play.
"Hopefully we get the support we need and we can really add to it, because the people who have come into it already, Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson, Flynn, Joel Piroe, Ethan [Laird] before he got called back, have been some of our top performers."
The examples Martin cites there are proof that his vision warrants backing.
Ntcham has that bit of magic about him; Paterson - disregarding his current issues - has been a superb signing; Downes is a future Swansea captain in the making; Piroe will be a Premier League striker at some stage in his career and Laird was one of the most exciting players to feature for the club in many a year.
So far this month we have seen seven outgoings and three arrivals in SA1.
Laird, Jake Bidwell, Steven Benda, Daniel Williams, Lewis Webb, Liam Cullen and Morgan Whittaker have all left Landore, whether that be on loan, permanently or have been recalled by their parent club.
Kyle Joseph has headed back to Fairwood having had his stay with Cheltenham Town terminated prematurely, while Andrew Fisher has arrived from MK Dons and Cyrus Christie has signed on from Fulham until the end of the season.
Space has been freed-up for signings - with more likely to follow suit. Jay Fulton and Yan Dhanda are likely to leave before the January 31 deadline, while centre-back Rhys Williams could also head back to Liverpool.
The clearing of the decks is fine and indeed necessary - as long as players are brought in to fill the voids left.
As such, Martin's priorities - in no particular order - over the next two weeks should be as follows:
- Sort the Paterson issue out - one way or another
- Resolve Williams' future in SA1 with Liverpool
- Add creativity to the squad - regardless of Paterson's status as a Swansea player
- Sign a goalscorer to relieve pressure on Piroe's shoulders
- Offload those remaining who are surplus to requirements
Simple, eh?
Various names have been mentioned as targets - James McAtee, Matt O'Riley and Harry Darling among them.
One suspects the further into the month we go, the more frantic this situation will become. Twas ever thus.
Martin's view is clear and his message to the owners was far from subtle.
He's not asking for the world.
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