Phil Sumbler
It is probably a bit early in the season to be considering names for player of the season but if you were to do so then the name of Ryan Manning would be close to the top of the list based on his form season to date.
Manning has become one of the most reliable players of the Russell Martin area and chips in with goals, assists and attacks in a side that is looking to establish itself as a serious promotion candidate this season.
Manning will make his 71st league appearance for the Swans this afternoon when he lines up against Wigan and the defender is under no illusion that this is exciting times to be at the club, putting much of that down to a complete feeling of unity within the squad.
Despite the setbacks of the last two games, the Swans have picked up 19 points of the last 27 available and are within touching distance of the early (ish) play off places this season with just a week left now until the Championship takes an enforced break due to the World Cup.
Of all the years you want to have a break it wasn’t this year with the run that we’re on. For me I’m just seeing it as a case of being back now,” Manning said an interview in today’s digital programme.
“It’s going well and we need see out the couple of weeks we’ve got left before the break. I can then have the time then to let my body have chance to fully recover.
“Then it’s a little mini pre-season to get going again to finish the season strong. It’s frustrating that the break has come at this time. For a team like ourselves, momentum is everything with our form in the league. It probably doesn’t come at a good time, but the only thing we can do is finish strongly and try and be in the top six. If we can do that going into the break, it gives us all good motivation.”
It seems strange but at the age of 26, Manning is one of the elder statesmen in the Swans squad, something that he appears to thrive on along with the other senior players which can then aid the development of the youthful element of the squad.
“As an older player you have to be that much more responsible,” he added. “Those people are the ones that you look to emulate. Everyone’s come together this season and we’re starting to see that with everyone stepping up to the plate.
“It’s a combination of those guys themselves, the staff and the environment that the older boys create. I think we’re all heading in the right direction now and it’s exciting times.
“It’s mostly down to the changing room, the players that are in there, and it obviously then comes down to the influence from the staff.
“They do give you that freedom to enjoy yourself throughout the training ground. It’s not a hostile environment where everyone’s afraid to step out of line.
“We all get on together and have a good laugh. Everyone enjoys being in the training ground. That’s a big part of it, that no one’s rushing to get home. Everyone wants to be first in and last to leave.
“It’s the culture of the team, not through a dictatorship. We’re doing it because we want to do it. That’s what it takes to be doing things the right way, day in and day out, to perform well at the weekend in games.
“A lot has come from the staff where they have created that environment where we have all been allowed to flourish. We had a rough start, but now we’ve turned a corner recently. Hopefully we can go on to continue that and grow together.”
