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.
