Planet Swans ArchivesPawel Abbott was a name that Swansea fans would be forgiven for not wanting to hear again when 2007 dawned for he had scored twice in the last 17 minutes to send the team to defeat at the Galpharm stadium to end what was a pretty miserable year on the pitch.
Three weeks later and after completing a move from Huddersfield to South Wales it will now be his name that Swans fans will chant for the next couple of years as he is handed the number 11 shirt that was, until last week, the property of Rory Fallon.
And whilst the previous incumbent may not have been the most popular man to ever pull on a Swans shirt, Pawel is confident that he can help fire the goals to take the Swans into the Championship
“I’ll repay Swansea with plenty of goals to cancel those two out,” said Abbott, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract following a £150,000 deal.
“I’m really looking forward to pulling on a Swansea shirt. It’s a fantastic stadium and a really big club, a club I really want to play for. Hopefully I can help the club get where they want to be, in the Championship.
“I enjoyed my time at Huddersfield, but the time was right to make a move for the betterment of my career.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Lee Trundle or Adebayo Akinfenwa. They are two very different strikers, but both very good players.
“There’s going to be competition for places up front, but that’s what keeps everyone on their toes and makes everyone work harder.”
And whilst Jackett is happy at the capture of his player, he freely admits that he would not have made the move had he not sold Fallon to his pal Ian Holloway last week
“He plays on the last line of defence. He plays on the shoulder.
“He has a good physical presence and a terrific goal-scoring record. He’s a six-footer, but his strength is his movement.
“He was very keen to sign for us as well and the deal moved through very quickly. We won’t hold those goals against us against him!
“I’m not looking at anyone else at the moment now. I think personally Pawel can complement Lee Trundle and Bayo Akinfenwa with his strengths. I feel the three strikers we have now give us a good balance.”
And with Leon Knight set to seal his move to MK Dons today and a small fee close to being agreed for Marcos Painter then there promises to be more activity at the Liberty ahead of the transfer window closing next week.
