Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has declared his club are playing “sexy football” again under manager Graham Potter.
Jenkins – who turned to Potter at the start of the summer after hiring and firing Garry Monk, Francesco Guidolin, Bob Bradley, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvalhal in rapid succession – reckons the club have rediscovered their identity under their current boss who he describes as “a breath of fresh air.”
Writing in his programme notes ahead of Saturday’s home game against Ipswich, Jenkins has heaped praise on Potter who has guided his team into the play-off positions despite having to oversee a fire sale of top talent.
Jenkins said: “This game provides Graham Potter, his staff and our squad with a chance to maintain the current run of form and build momentum moving forward.
“Some of the football we have watched over the last two games has been a breath of fresh air at times compared to the survival battle we had all become accustomed to watching during our last few seasons in the Premier League.
“It’s very early days yet but I’m sure everyone will agree we are certainly moving in the right direction as a football club on the field once more.
“Graham has settled into his job at Swansea City with ease and has already shown he can get the team playing the sexy, winning football we had become used to watching over many years.
“More importantly, he has reintroduced the football identity that our football club had become renowned for all over Europe.
“The Championship season is long and testing – there is a lot of football to be played, which I am sure we will enjoy over the months ahead – and consistency is a key factor for successful teams.
“We all hope Graham can continue to guide the team to more positive results, starting today.”
Swansea are hopeful Tom Carroll will be available to face Ipswich. Carroll was forced off with a groin injury at Wigan on Tuesday, but Potter said that was a precautionary move and is optimistic that the former Tottenham midfielder will feature.
George Byers is also expected to be fit after missing the goalless draw with a knock picked up in the 3-0 win over QPR last weekend. Leroy Fer and Martin Olsson will be assessed as Wilfried Bony edges closer to a first-team return after a long-term knee problem.
Ipswich, bottom but one and still without a league win, welcome back Matthew Pennington after his one-match ban. Pennington was sent off at Birmingham for two bookable offences and the on-loan Everton defender missed the 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough in midweek.
The Tractor Boys have no new injury worries and teenage midfielder Andre Dozzell is set to be included in the squad after suffering no reaction following long-term injury.
Dozzell came off the bench against Boro to make his first league appearance since sustaining cruciate ligament damage on the opening day of last season, but Myles Kenlock remains out with an ankle problem.
Opta stats
Swansea are unbeaten in seven league matches against Ipswich (W3 D4), with this their first meeting since April 2011.
Ipswich’s last league win over Swansea was in November 1982, when goals from Russell Osman, George Burley and John Wark gave the Tractor Boys a 3-1 win.
This is just the second time in Ipswich’s history that they’ve failed to win any of their opening 11 league games to a season after 2009-10 when they finished 15th.
Swansea have failed to score in a league-high six different Championship games so far this season.
Ipswich have failed to score in six of their last 10 away games in the Championship, winning just once in the process (D1 L8).
Oli McBurnie has been directly involved in 60% of Swansea’s 10 Championship goals this season (4 goals, 2 assists).
