Williams backtracks on current position on Brighton stopper

Less than a week ago, Luke Williams was confirming that Carl Rushworth would be spending another season on loan at Swansea City.   In yesterday’s press conference he said “I think what was going on in my head and what I was hoping for and reality all merged!” as he backtracked on the current state of play on Rushworth’s loan.

The on loan Brighton goalkeeper has been one of the highlights of what has been a pretty dismal season in SA1 and keeping him for a second season would relieve one of the problems we have ahead of us this summer with Andy Fisher not inspiring much confidence from his performances that he could be the long term number 1 at the club.

That may not be the view of Luke Williams though who clearly was not going to put the boot into his current backup goalkeeper when he said “We have Andy Fisher, who I’ve worked with before at MK and here briefly in my first spell. He’s an excellent goalkeeper as well.

“So it’s important for me to make that point. As much as I was probably having some fun there with Rushy. Fish is a really good keeper as well. We’re very adequate in that department.”

Having said that though it is clear that Williams would like to extend the loan spell of Rushworth although he was more cagey this week on what may happen next, not willing to expand on discussions with Brighton – discussions with a parent club being a regular part of any loan deal that the club have in place.

“We’ve been in touch with Brighton all the way through because they’re a brilliant club,” he added.

“They want to always have contact to make sure and of course that conversation [about next season] has already happened because naturally you start to plan ahead and try to work out what’s possible. But it’s nothing more than that.

“It won’t come down to my desire alone. There will be many things. It would be impossible for me to say at the moment.

“He’s obviously a very good goalkeeper. A really good guy and we really like him a lot. I know a lot of the people at Brighton as well. But sometimes if you build it they will come. So if you believe it enough maybe it’ll happen.

“We know he’s a brilliant goalkeeper and I’m sure we’d be interested in him coming back here.”

Rushworth will take his normal place between the sticks this afternoon when the Swans take on Blackburn at the Swansea.com Stadium.   Kick off is 3pm.