By Paul Jones
Andre Ayew won’t miss any Swansea City matches when the Championship resumes after the international window, insists head coach Steve Cooper.
The Ghana skipper is due to head to the Cape Coast after Saturday’s crucial Welsh derby against Cardiff City at the Liberty Stadium, to lead his team into a massive qualifying match against South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana have three fixtures lined-up in the international window, two of which will conclude their qualifying campaign.
They currently lead South Africa on goal difference with both teams tied on nine points at the top of Pool D, but Cooper’s hint suggests a deal has been done that would allow Ayew to miss the South Africa game.
Current Covid-19 rules require anyone who has visited South Africa to quarantine in an airport hotel for 10 days on arrival back in the UK.
With fears over how long Ayew may have to isolate for on his return from international duty, Swansea boss Cooper has been working behind the scenes to ensure he has his leading goalscorer available for Good Friday when the Championship resumes.
“Andre won’t be missing any Swansea games, that’s for sure. I’ve had that discussion,” said Cooper.
“Plans are still getting drawn up and everyone agrees what may or may not happen, especially Andre. It will come to light in the next day or so, but everything is under control.
“We will be sending out our normal recommendations on what we think the players should and shouldn’t be doing. Then we trust the managers to look after them.”
Swansea travel to Birmingham on 2 April, seven days after Ghana’s home clash with South Africa.
The Black Stars are also due to play Uzbekistan on 26 March and then their final qualifier against bottom of the table Sao Tome & Principe two days later.
Ayew’s goals have kept the Swans in the race for automatic promotion. They are currently in third, three points behind Watford with a game in hand.
The Swans take on the Bluebirds knowing a victory would make them the first side in the 109-year history of the fixture to complete a league double.
The two clubs have been in the same division in 32 seasons in that time, but no-one has ever sealed home and away wins in the same campaign.
“It’s an opportunity, it’s something to be thrived on and not something to back down from,” said Cooper.
Andre Ayew Is Still In Wales . . . Swansea City Fans Hope It Stays That Way And Ghana Call Goes Unanswered https://t.co/6LBV4FlJPx
— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) March 15, 2021
“We all know this is as big as it gets in South Wales, let’s not play it down or shirk the question.
“In terms of football in this part of the world, it does not get any bigger domestically. No matter wherever you play the game, the league positions or the form, it all goes out the window.
“We know it is important, as these derbies always are, and we have to use it as motivation to go and win.
“We have to focus on what it takes to win, but the main driver is the importance of trying to get the right result.
“We want to win the game and that is all we are focusing on. Whenever you play these games, nothing else comes into it than the game itself.
“We are very away of how important the game is, we have been as a group since I have been here and that will continue to be the case.
“But we know it is not just about the football club, but the city and the community too.
“We represent them with pride and ambition, and we want to do that again on Saturday.”
