Your latest Swansea City headlines for Friday, August 26.
Drameh's future undecided
Jesse Marsch admits Cody Drameh's future is yet to be decided with just shy of a week until the transfer window closes.
Drameh is now in the final year of his contract with Leeds United and is eager to play regularly following his successful stint with Cardiff City last term.
Swansea are eager to add a wing-back to their ranks and have explored the option of recruiting Drameh on loan, although Leeds only appear willing to sanction a permanent exit given that they do not want to lose the 20-year-old for nothing next summer.
And Marsch has hinted that Drameh could yet leave Elland Road before Thursday's 11pm transfer deadline.
"What happens with him going forward, I think it's not totally solidified one way or the other quite yet," he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"The window is still open. I think he knows he wants to play games and that's important for him, but we also value having him here. So we'll see how that next week goes and exactly what comes out of it, but I can just say that in the moment, I think he's fully a part of our team, in our club and he has a big future here."
Young gun to sign new contract
Josh Thomas is set to sign a new 18-month contract with Swansea.
The striker's existing deal expired this summer, although, following his return from injury, he has made a pivotal impact for the club's under-21s.
Thomas was also included in a senior matchday squad for the first time last weekend as he was listed among the substitutes for Swansea's 2-0 defeat to Luton Town.
And Russell Martin has been hugely impressed with the 18-year-old in training since pre-season.
"I hadn't seen much of him until pre-season really," said Martin.
"What's impressed us the most is his work-rate, his willingness to run and the intensity he trains and plays at. That's the beauty of being a young player at this club at this minute in time, they will get opportunities.
"They train with us a lot, a lot of the young guys. In fact, a lot of them are with us full time now and then go and play with the under-21s if they're not getting game time with us.
"He's been really impressive in training. His attitude, power, strength. We have to tell him to steady on sometimes because he's kicking people in training, but I absolutely love that about him, he's come over and not been phased one bit.
"He's a proper Swansea boy, he's desperate to be here and show what he's about.
"He got given a short-term contract because of his injury record so we're in the process of sorting that out. That'll get sorted very quickly.
"He's earned that. We're really pleased with him. There's not a huge expectancy on him. At this minute in time he deserves his place on the bench, there's a couple of injuries. They have to take the opportunity when they get them and the young lads will get more opportunities here than anywhere else I think."
Boro boss wary of Swans threats
Chris Wilder believes Swansea's performances have been better than their results suggest so far this term.
Middlesbrough go into the match without a win this season while the Swans have emerged victorious just once in their six fixtures in all competitions so far this term.
However, Wilder is only too aware of the threats that Swansea have in their ranks ahead of Saturday's contest between the sides in the north east of England.
"They're a really technical side, they keep the ball very well," said the Boro boss.
"They've got really technical players, they can frustrate you, open you up. The top three are really good players, [Olivier] Ntcham, [Joel] Piroe and [Michael] Obafemi. Joe Allen and Matt Grimes in the middle of the park are really good players.
"They had a strong end to the [2021/22] season and are another club that are ex-Premier League and will want to have a successful season and push towards the play-offs. They play in a different way, another challenge, we'll try and impose our style and our structure on to them but knowing that we have to get a lot of things right tomorrow."
Martin provides injury update on duo
Jamie Paterson will be assessed ahead of Swansea's Championship clash with Middlesbrough.
The attacker has not featured for the Swans since the 3-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers due to a groin issue.
However, he will feature against Stoke City next week if he is deemed unavailable for the contest with Boro at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
“With Pato, we are hopeful he will be available but if it’s not this Saturday, he will be at Stoke on Wednesday," said Martin.
“We’ve had to stick to a plan to make sure we get it right with him. We’ve been given a plan by a specialist which we’ve stuck to, much to the frustration of him, me and everyone because we miss having him with us.
“But we’re hopeful that by being patient, it will mean that we’re able to have him available long term.”
Kyle Naughton is available to feature against Boro, although Joel Latibeaudiere and Liam Walsh will both miss out.
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