Your Swansea City headlines on Tuesday, February 14.
Goalkeeper situation clarified
Matt Gill says there is still scope for Swansea to add a goalkeeper to their ranks before the end of the season.
The Swans currently have just one senior goalkeeper, Andy Fisher, available given the knee injury sustained by Steven Benda last month.
Russell Martin had been eager to add a new shot-stopper to his ranks in the winter transfer window, although the club failed to make a single signing across the 31 days of January.
READ MORE: Key Swansea City concern highlighted as coach gives injury updates ahead of Blackpool test
They can still recruit a free agent, and will also be able to utilise the emergency loan goalkeeper market if required.
Assistant head coach Gill says the Swans will be ready to act should they find a feasible target to replace Benda in the short-term.
"There's always scope, Dean (Thornton) works extremely hard with the goalkeepers," said Gill.
"If you're not succession planning then you're a little bit behind the curve so we'll always be prepared for certain situations. We'll continue to be prepared in case anything changes."
McCarthy's Swans dig
Mick McCarthy admits Blackpool plan to capitalise on any Swansea mistakes when they face Russell Martin's side on Wednesday night.
The Tangerines have dropped down to the foot of the Championship table following a run of 13 games without a victory.
However, former Cardiff City manager McCarthy - who took charge of the Bloomfield Road outfit in January on a short-term contract until the end of the season - aimed a cheeky dig at the Swans ahead of the contest between the sides by stating that goals count, not possession.
“They keep the ball and they will have a lot of possession, but it will be nice travelling back to Blackpool at 10pm with three points," he said.
“They’re a possession-based team and they will make it difficult for you, but we’ve got to try and make it hard for them.
“If we have to catch them in transition…we have our way of scoring goals, just like they have theirs.
“They are a very good footballing team and keep the ball as well as anybody in the league, but they make mistakes and it’s goals that count, not possession.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy was less than impressed with the English Football League's scheduling of the contest.
“Whoever thought it was a good idea for Blackpool to play in Swansea on a Wednesday night is a complete clown,” he added.
“Maybe it’s the computer, is it? Maybe it’s the computer that’s a clown.
“Could no-one have had a look at that and go ‘oh yes, let’s go and make Blackpool travel down there on a Wednesday and they’ll be back at daft o’clock on Thursday morning to prepare for Stoke on Saturday’.
“Whoever that was, thanks very much. I really appreciate it.”
Mawson retires
Alfie Mawson has retired from professional football.
The defender joined Swansea from Barnsley in the summer of 2016 but was sold to Fulham following the club's relegation from the Premier League two years later.
He made a total of 71 appearances for the Swans, scoring seven times, most notably a winner against Liverpool in January 2018.
But following spells with Fulham, Bristol City and most recently Wycombe Wanderers, Mawson has confirmed he has ended his career at the age of just 29 due to injury.
“It might come as a shock to some people, but to me, it’s been coming for a while,” he said. “After speaking to the specialists, to my family and to the gaffer (Gareth Ainsworth), I’ve come to the difficult decision to retire.
"I had some time off around Christmas after feeling some pain in my knee and the pain hasn’t gone away. I went for a scan and unfortunately the damage was done.”
“It’s devastating, but it’s how life goes. I was nearly in this situation in the summer, and I’d fallen out of love with the game."
Pundit tips Swans for success
David Prutton is confident that Swansea can return to winning ways against Blackpool on Wednesday night.
The Swans are without a win in their last four matches in all competitions and go into their clash with Mick McCarthy's side on the back of league defeats to Birmingham City and Sheffield United.
However, Blackpool currently sit at the foot of the Championship standings having failed to win any of their previous 13 league games.
And Prutton says the visit of the Tangerines presents Swansea with a golden opportunity to clinch three valuable points to reignite their play-off hopes.
"That was a bit of a chastening result for Swansea at Sheffield United on Saturday," he told Sky Sports. "It is three without a win now and they have dropped back into the bottom half.
"This is a chance for them to get back to winning ways, even though Mick McCarthy seems to have added a bit of resilience to Blackpool - they have simply drawn two games at home against fellow relegation candidates, which isn’t ideal. I'll back the Swans to bounce back here."
David Prutton's prediction: Swansea City 2-0 Blackpool
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