Phil SumblerHe may only be on loan from Aston Villa but Conor Hourihane is determined to help the Swans win promotion to the Premier League as we already start to think about a return to league action at the end of the week.
The international break came for the Swans on the back of successive defeats against Bournemouth and Cardiff but with nine games left in the season there is still plenty to play for and a definite argument that the break came at just the wrong time for Watford at least given the incredible form they had leading into it.
Hourihane has already experienced promotion from this league before with Aston Villa and hopes to be able to repeat that with the Swans which will help his move away from Villa Park that seems certain to happen in the summer no matter what happens in the next nine games.
The Republic of Ireland international has scored five times since joining on loan in January but has also come in for high levels of criticism due to his work rate although it is hard to argue with his record in the team although it has definitely coincided with us having a dip in form – whether the two are intrinsically linked is a matter for debate.
“I know what’s it like getting promoted to the Premier League, and I know what it’s like coming down that final stretch and I loved it,” Hourihane said via the Swans official site.
“You’re a footballer, this is what you want, to be fighting to achieve things at the business end of the season.
“I am excited about it, I can tell you that without any doubt.”
Hourihane should have been involved in internationals this week but was forced to withdraw from the Irish squad following an injury picked up in the defeat to Cardiff. In his absence the Irish have started their World Cup qualifying campaign miserably with two defeats in their two games including an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Luxembourg yesterday in Dublin.
For Hourihane though his focus is on being involved at Swansea and he is enjoying the pressure that a promotion push can bring “You want games to have something on them, to be important and be a factor in what the future of the club holds. I know I am on loan, but I want to make a difference here, I want to help this club get to where it wants to be.
“That’s why I will always take these situations over playing 10 games at the end of the year in mid-table.
“Don’t get me wrong, you always want to win and perform, but knowing you are fighting for promotion is a different feeling.”
Hourihane is expected to be fit for the trip to Birmingham on Friday night (8pm kick off) as the Swans look to put those back to back defeats behind them.
