Luke Williams has only been Swansea City’s head coach for seven months, but he reckons he knows the recipe for derby success against Cardiff City. El Taffico has it’s own Welsh flavour – laverbread simmered in Brains Bitter – and Williams believes he got a taste for it immediately back in March.

Steve Cooper made a steady, rather than spectacular start to his new life as Leicester City manager, but his influence was clear. The only Welsh manager operating in the Premier League began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham, thanks to a goal from Jamie Vardy.

New Cardiff City signing Jesper Daland is keen to be thrown straight into the heat of a Welsh derby against Swansea City on Sunday. The Norwegian defender expects to figure for the Bluebirds, having moved from Belgian club Cercle Brugge for a fee understood to be around £3.5m.

Cardiff City are set to sign Manchester United defender Will Fish on a permanent transfer, according to reports in Manchester. The 21-year-old – who made one Premier League appearance for United in the 2020/21 season and has been out on loan in Scotland with Hibernian – is seen by the Bluebirds as a replacement for Luton Town-bound £10m-rated Mark McGuinness.

Luke Williams believes Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik is fully energised to take on Cardiff City in the Welsh derby this weekend after scoring his first goal for his new club. Vipotnik came off the bench to grab one of Swansea’s three goals in their empathic 3-0 victory over Preston at the weekend.

You know it’s not been a great weekend for a club when the headline screaming out from Sky Sports’ website says: “Is this the worst goalkeeper mistake you have ever seen!?” The answer, of course, depends very much on the length of your memory. If you happen to be under 30, then Ethan Horvath’s horrible error that led to Cardiff City conceding the opener in their 5-0 defeat Burnley may well be top of the pile.

Lawrence Vigouroux believes he has settled in well as the new man between the sticks for Swansea City. The 30-year-old goalkeeper, who joined from Burnley earlier in the summer, has already started in the two competitive matches against Middlesbrough and Gillingham and is preparing for his first home league game against Preston North End on Saturday.

Rubin Colwill could make his first Championship start against Burnley on Saturday as Cardiff City test themselves against one of the favourites for promotion. Colwill’s inclusion is only theoretical, though, and certainly not something that can be guaranteed.

If Harry Wilson scores to put Fulham top of the Premier League on Friday night, then expect Craig Bellamy to be just as happy as the Manchester United-haters. The Premier League season will begin at Old Trafford where most eyes will be drawn towards Erik ten Hag.

Steve Williams, the president of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), has resigned with immediate effect. Williams had been suspended in July while an investigation was underway, but he has now chosen to step down before an independent hearing could be conducted.

Erol Bulut has told his Cardiff City game-changers to take their Carabao Cup spark into the club’s Championship campaign. Mark McGuinness headed home Cardiff’s first goal of their 125th anniversary season to set-up a comfortable 2-0 home win over League One Bristol Rovers that saw them safely through to the second round.

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison has urged his players to move on quickly from their latest Euro heartbreak – and pocket the consolation prize. His team were unable to overcome a one goal deficit from the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash with Moldovan champions Petrocub and were knocked out of the tournament after a goalless draw.

Luke Williams urged his Swansea City side to use their convincing 3-1 victory over 10-man Gillingham in the first round of the Carabao Cup as the benchmark for their forthcoming league performances. Ronald’s solo effort gave the dominant Swans the advantage at half-time.

Wales could be back trying to pick their way through the minefield of Olympic football participation again during the lead in to 2028. British Olympic Association bosses hope to field a men’s football team at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Wales midfielder Jordan James has finalised his transfer from Birmingham City to French club Rennes for a fee understood to be around £4m. Rennes, under the guidance of manager Julien Stephan, finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season and have captured the 20-year-old on a four-year deal..

Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut has insisted defender Mark McGuinness was left out of the defeat to Sunderland because of a tight hamstring – and not because his thumb and index finger are about to pen a deal to join Luton Town for £10m. The former Arsenal player was conspicuous by his absence from the 2-0 home loss but Bulut claimed it does not mean he is on his way out of the club.

Luke Williams pulled no punches and admitted Swansea City got what they deserved from their Championship opener – nothing. Opponents Middlesbrough won on the opening day for the first time in a decade as Emmanuel Latte Lath continued his blistering form from last season with the only goal in a 1-0 victory. Latte Lath scored 17 league goals in his first campaign on Teesside and took just 25 minutes to open his account this term, netting from the spot after Isaiah Jones was fouled inside the box.

Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut has asked fans to get behind his team’s new style of play as he searched for positives following a  2-0 home defeat against Sunderland in their opening match of the season. After a busy transfer window, Cardiff fans were optimistic going into the start of the new campaign, but the heavy emphasis on possession and a slower build-up was a surprise. A goal in either half by Luke O’Nien and the impressive Jack Clarke gave Sunderland a flying start and the Black Cats deserved their success after seizing their chances.

Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut says he is not surprised Luton Town are interested in ex-Arsenal defender Mark McGuinness. The Bluebirds want around £10m for the central defender – who still has three years left to run on his contract.

Swansea City’s hopes of reviving their flagging fortunes rest squarely on the shoulders of new striker Žan Vipotnik this season. The 22-year-old Slovenian spent the summer at the Euros in Germany with his national side before committing himself to the Championship club following the demise of Bordeaux in Ligue 1 in France.