Your latest Swansea City headlines on Friday, September 16.
Fulton opens up on 'difficult' spell
Jay Fulton admits he never wanted to leave Swansea during what was a "difficult" spell for him at the club last season.
The Scot found himself on the fringes for long periods in the opening half of the 2021/22 campaign and was largely restricted to substitute appearances in the second half of Russell Martin's debut season in south Wales.
But he has become a more prominent figure this term following the sale of Flynn Downes to West Ham and Fulton admits he's delighted to be back contributing on the pitch once again.
"Last season, for me personally, it was difficult," he said. "But I think, me as a person and as a player, I always try and work hard, do the best I can and see where that takes me. This season, it's good to be back involved, playing more minutes and trying to help the team."
Fulton - who still has two years left to run on his contract at the club - attracted interest from Blackpool and Barnsley in the January transfer window while it was widely expected that he would depart in the summer. However, the 28-year-old says he never wanted to leave the Swans, despite his struggles last season.
"For me, I never wanted to leave," he added. "My family are happy here, I'm happy here, we've been here a long time. It was something I never fully wanted to go into or look at. I'm happy here."
Martin hopes for Wales 'surprise'
Russell Martin hopes Ollie Cooper can be a World Cup bolter with Wales later this year.
Cooper has represented his country at Under-21s level and has shone since being handed a role under Martin with Swansea this season. Rob Page was in attendance to watch Cooper, along with fellow Welsh duo Ben Cabango and Joe Allen, during the Swans' clash with Sheffield United on Tuesday night.
And Martin suggested that Cooper could be an outsider to be included in the Red Dragons' 26-man squad for the World Cup if he can maintain his current form.
"I hope he'll [Page] be impressed with Joe, Ben Cabango and hopefully Ollie Cooper as well. Who knows, I hope more than anyone he [Cooper] can jump on late," said the head coach.
"There’s always someone who surprises people. Maybe it’s a bit too much to do. If he continues doing what he’s doing, I'm sure Rob will be impressed with all three of those guys.
"It’s really good for us promoting homegrown players, it’s a huge part of our job. It’s a big part of what we’ve been brought here to do, develop young players."
Cabango and Allen have both been included in the Wales squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Belgium and Poland.
READ MORE: Ben Cabango's Swansea City resurgence and the £1.4m statement signing being kept out
Hull boss planning changes
Shota Arveladze admits he could make changes to his Hull City side for the clash with Swansea this weekend.
The Tigers come into the match at the Swansea.com Stadium on the back of three successive defeats, with their most recent fixture seeing them lose 3-0 at home to Stoke City.
And head coach Arveladze says he, along with his players, need to eradicate the mistakes they've made in recent weeks when they travel to south Wales.
"It's not easy of course, if you want to feel better you have a chance soon to get back on the field and change things that we don't like, make things positive and get some points," he told our sister title Hull Live.
"We haven't got any points in the last three games but this is the last game before the break and we have the opportunity to react. In the last three games, if you counted, you would see many mistakes, you could see my mistake as well.
"Everything you do before the game is generally right and then the game shows you, your reactions, your changes during the game."
It comes after Russell Martin admitted he could also make alterations to his line-up following the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Tuesday night.
"Everyone's fit and available, although there might be one or two changes to the team and squad," he said in his pre-match press conference.
Kick-off is at 12:30pm on Saturday.
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Ex-academy product joins Exiles
Former Swansea academy player Josh Edwards has joined Newport County on a free transfer.
The midfielder - who has represented Wales at Under-19s level - was released by the Swans in the summer and has joined the Exiles' development side.
“I’m so pleased to welcome Josh to the club," said Newport boss James Rowberry.
“He’s a promising young talent which further outlines what we’re trying to do here, by building both for right now and with an eye to the future. He’ll fit into our development squad with immediate effect. I know you’ll give him a warm welcome!”
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