Swansea City fans could be forgiven for getting a little excited after the recruitment of new loan signing Charlie Patino from Arsenal. The 19-year-old hardly pulled up any trees in terms of results when he was sent out to Blackpool – who were relegated last season – but the devil is in the detail.

The four Welsh clubs in Football League action last weekend are going to have to get used to a heavier match-day schedule this season. Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County and Wrexham all found their games went well over the 90-minute mark as new guidelines on added time and player behaviour were enforced by officials.

Seasoned Newport County fans are no strangers to tumult: much of the club’s 111-year history has been defined by it. By contrast, the last few years have been a relative sea of tranquillity, with County looking a comfortable resident in the Football League – something which the late David Hando and other dedicated supporters could only have dreamt of following the demise of the old Ironsides, and the reborn club’s painful years in exile and the non-league doldrums.

Newport County have signed their fifth new player this summer after landing former Republic of Ireland youth international Shane McLoughlin. The 26-year-old midfielder has joined the League Two club on a two year del from Salford City. Born in the Bronx, New York, his family moved to Ireland when he was five before he joined Ipswich Town as a scholar and young professional.

Newport County manager Graham Coughlin reckons new signing Bryn Morris can fire the team’s midfield ignition next season. County have bolstered their squad by securing the services of defensive midfielder Morris, who recently became a free agent after his departure from Grimsby Town.

Cardiff City have been handed the toughest of Championship openers for the new 2023-24 season with a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United. The new fixture list has sent the Bluebirds to Leeds on Sunday August 6, to face one of the clubs relegated from the Premier League last season.

Wrexham are just 90 minutes away from ending 15 years of pain. A victory over Boreham Wood on Saturday evening and the prize will be in their grasp – a return to the Football League they dropped out of in 2008. It has been a titanic struggle between the Dragons and their National League title rivals Notts County all season, better than anything any of the four leagues above them could muster.

Rob Page’s Wales squad announcement for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia last week was a landmark moment for Welsh football. The dark hour which had been a subject of dread for an entire sporting generation had actually arrived: Gareth Bale was no longer be available for Wales selection. His contributions in a red shirt – as well as those of fellow national team heroes, Joe Allen and Chris Gunter – have now officially entered the realm of memory.

Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi insists he wants to stay at Cardiff City – but only after he has steered the club to safety in the Championship. The Bluebirds boss has a deal that runs to the end of the campaign after becoming the third manager of a chaotic season. The Lamouchi effect took a while to work, but if Cardiff can win at Preston North End on Saturday, then it would be their fourth in five matches.

Sabri Lamouchi reckons Cardiff City need 15 more points before his players can hit the beach rather than land in League One. The Bluebirds manager has told his squad they can relax and enjoy themselves if they gather another five victories, which he feels will be enough to stave off the threat of relegation. But five victories from 12 remaining games – starting with Saturday’s home 12.30pm clash against Bristol City – is a tall order when you’re a side that took 21 matches to win your last five.

Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi insists there’s no rest for the wicked – or those still threatened by the terror of relegation. The Bluebirds boss may have earned back-to-back victories to ease worries of the drop from the Championship, but he has reminded his players they have to keep winning – starting on Saturday, away at Norwich City. Cardiff are one place and four points above the relegation zone, but Huddersfield – immediately beneath them – also won their last match and have a game in hand.

By Gareth James Sabri Lamouchi is hoping Cardiff City can provide him with some home comforts on Saturday. The Bluebirds boss takes charge in front of the club’s fans for the first time when they host Middlesbrough. But Cardiff’s miserable recent form and awful scoring record means they will be big underdogs to get anything against opponents […]