Your latest Swansea City headlines for Thursday, August 25.
Christie set for Championship move
Cyrus Christie is set to join Hull City on a free transfer, according to the Guardian.
The Republic of Ireland international was released by Fulham in the summer following the expiration of his contract at Craven Cottage.
Swansea boss Russell Martin wanted to sign Christie on a permanent basis following the defender's successful loan spell with the club in the second-half of last season.
However, Swansea were unable to strike a deal to bring Christie back to south Wales - despite their concerns over the right wing-back slot.
And the Guardian claim that the 29-year-old is now close to joining the Swans' Championship rivals Hull for nothing. He had been training with Birmingham City, while Preston North End were also linked with him.
Pundit calls for defensive stability
Iwan Roberts has called for defensive stability from Swansea City following their mixed start to the season.
The Swans' defeat to Luton Town means they have conceded seven goals in three home matches this term, collecting just one point from their fixtures against Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and the Hatters.
Injuries to players including Joel Latibeaudiere and Ben Cabango have meant Russell Martin has had to shuffle his pack on numerous occasions early on in the 2022/23 season.
But former Wales striker Roberts believes the Swans need more solidity at the back if they are going to improve their fortunes this term.
"I said it last year, Russell, at times, changes things far too often from a defensive point of view," he said on the latest episode of EJFOF.
"I look at the game on Saturday. He brings Kyle Naughton on. He's got Ryan Manning playing right-back and Kyle Naughton playing left-back. Whether he's trying to make a point, I don't know. But, at the end of the day, you've got a game to win. You can't be messing about with your team and trying to prove a point."
He went on to add: "I know it's still early days, and we might be going a bit over the top, but there's a reason who you've got the second worst defensive record in the league, only Middlesbrough, who you play on Saturday, have conceded more, because he chops and changes too much."
Cabango over 'difficult' spell
Ben Cabango has revealed Dan Williams played a pivotal role in his return from injury.
Defender Cabango sustained an ankle injury during Swansea's 3-3 draw with Bournemouth in April and was sidelined for several months having undergone surgery.
Williams prematurely returned from his loan spell with Irish outfit Dundalk after suffering an injury of his own, with both Welsh players undergoing rehabilitation at the club's Fairwood base during the course of the summer.
"It was difficult," said Cabango. "It was the first real injury I've had in my career. It was a different experience being in during the off-season with the physios. I was with Dan Williams as well who had a similar injury to me.
"We pushed each other along and the physios helped a lot. It was a really different experience for me, but I feel really good now. It was a hard rehab to get through, but now I'm just playing games and trying to get that match fitness.
"He really helped me along, it was my first injury. Having him next to me and pushing me through stuff like on the bike, the running, he was always there pushing me along, and likewise with me. Having someone like that with you really did help."
Wood eyeing happy reunion
Nathan Wood is itching to impress some familiar faces when he returns to Middlesbrough with Swansea this weekend.
The defender started his career at the Riverside Stadium but joined the Swans on a permanent basis this summer following loan stints with Crewe Alexandra and Hibernian.
And Wood - who has featured in five of Swansea's six matches in all competitions so far this term - admits his family and friends will have split loyalties when the Swans take on Boro in the north east of England.
“I will have a family there, my mother and my grandmother will be there, as will my little cousins who are Boro mad and footy mad so I am sure some of them might be on the fence a bit during the game," he told the club website.
“There will be a lot of people I know from school and that just excites me really, I think it will be a really good atmosphere.
“But we had a good result in our last away game. We want to build on that and try to set out the way we play. We will focus on what we do and everything else comes from that.
“We know that a few key moments have made the difference over these first games, but this is an unpredictable league where every team will have good moments and difficult moments. The key is to be able to deal with whatever it throws at you and keep improving.”
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