Your Swansea City headlines for Friday, April 29.
Five definitely leaving this summer
Five Swansea players will almost certainly be leaving the club this summer with news that Korey Smith will be moving on to pastures new come the end of the campaign.
Russell Martin confirmed on Tuesday that Ryan Bennett would be departing upon the season's conclusion, with the centre-back deemed surplus to requirements in SA1. He has a year left on his contract, with the club hoping to earn a fee for the former Norwich City man.
Following Smith and Bennett out of the door will be Yan Dhanda, Ben Hamer and Steven Benda, with the latter two set to move on and Martin to bring in another stopper to compete with No.1 Andy Fisher.
Meanwhile, question marks remain over the futures of Jay Fulton, Morgan Whittaker and Jordon Garrick in SA1.
Read the full transfer insight piece here.
Martin's Piroe expectation
Russell Martin believes Joel Piroe will be even better next season following what has been a fine debut campaign for the Dutchman in south Wales.
The striker has hit 24 goals already this term and will hope to further add to his tally in the games against Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers. His exploits in front of goal will no doubt make him a transfer target for rivals clubs, with Leicester City among those who have taken a look at the former PSV Eindhoven marksman.
And should Piroe remain in south Wales beyond the upcoming window, Martin is confident that he will be an even better player for the Swans following a full summer of work on the training ground.
Read more: Russell Martin opens up on Joel Piroe transfer valuation amid Leicester City interest
"He’s been outstanding in a different role for us over the last 10 or 12 games," said the head coach. "You look at the goals him and Michael [Obafemi] have scored since the turn of the year.
"It’s not just what he does technically, the finishes, he’s so brave on the ball, takes it in tight areas and links up so well with people. He has an understanding of what other players need on the ball. He will run unselfishly constantly.
"So he’s brilliant, but he’s got a long way to go in terms of growth. He can definitely be in better condition than he’s in. He had no pre-season and came in quite late.
"He’s learnt and adapted to the Championship whilst playing games brilliantly. For him, a nice break and then a really strong pre-season will be massive. I think you will see an even better Joel Piroe who can now play in a few positions for us which is fantastic."
Do you think Joel Piroe will be at Swansea beyond the summer transfer window? Have your say in our comments section here.
Forest injury concerns
Nottingham Forest have a number of injury concerns ahead of their clash with Swansea on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts will be without striker Lewis Grabban when they host Steve Cooper's former side at The City Ground this weekend after he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. Jack Colback, Philip Zinckernagel and former Swan Sam Surridge are all struggling with minor issues and will need to be assessed.
Cooper will also be without Keinan Davis after he sustained a hamstring issue while Max Lowe is expected to be absent with a groin complaint. Discussing the fixture, Cooper said: "This league throws up tough tests each and every week and Swansea will be no different."
Prutton's prediction
Pundit David Prutton expects Nottingham Forest to extend their impressive run by beating Swansea this weekend.
Forest still harbour hopes of clinching runner-up spot in the Championship, although Russell Martin's men are unbeaten in nine games ahead of Saturday's trip to The City Ground. And Prutton has predicted a comfortable win for Steve Cooper's men.
"What a rise it has been for Nottingham Forest," he told Sky Sports. "You wonder where they would be if Steve Cooper had been in charge from the start of the season, but the fact they have automatic promotion almost in their own hands is pretty incredible.
"Swansea almost did them a favour against Bournemouth in midweek, and Forest will hope that game took a lot out of them. This is a home win for me. Forest look too good right now."
Prutton's prediction: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Swansea City
Starlet's encouraging youth development
Ben Lloyd is confident that Swansea's academy players will be better suited to Russell Martin's style as a result of their efforts in the youth set-up at the club.
Kris O'Leary's Under-23 side have fully bought into the Swans' first team methods this season and are working hard to ensure the progression from youth level to the first team is as smooth and as open as possible. Lloyd - who scored just minutes into his senior debut in a friendly at Forest Green Rovers last summer - is highly-rated at the club and has played for both the Under-18s and Under-23s this season.
“We are trying to play the way that the first team play, and it’s just clicked in the last couple of weeks, especially on Monday [against Wigan Athletic] we showed how good we can be," he told the Swansea website. "Today we had spells of possession where they couldn’t get near us and it just shows that when it works it works and we are unplayable at times.
“For the under-23’s the season was tough to start with but playing this style of play was always going to be tough, these last couple of games of the season we’ve been unplayable at times, and I just think we’ve been really good.
“For myself it’s obviously been a bit up and down, I’ve been playing under-18s and under-23s but I’ve just enjoyed it all season, there have been some tough times but that’s how football goes.”
