Phil Sumbler
When the announcement of a winter World Cup was made everybody knew that there would need to be a break from league action as a direct result from it. And at that stage nobody knew how it would work or how the teams would manage it especially those with strong representations at the World Cup.
It has been more than three weeks since the Swans were in league action but that will all change this weekend when Norwich City arrive in SA1 to kick start the next stage of our Championship season.
It seems a long time since we have had a “normal” season with three consecutive seasons disrupted due to Covid and now this one due to the World Cup but we can focus again on a normal run to the end of the season now once we kick off again on Saturday.
The Swans have been preparing for that return with a training camp in Scotland that also included friendly wins over both Hearts and Dundee United which has led boss Russell Martin to declare that the Scottish break has gone better than he hoped it would and the team is ready for the visit of the Canaries at the weekend.
“This break has gone even better than we hoped it would in terms of the togetherness of the group on and off the pitch,” Martin said after the Swans win at Tannadice on Saturday.
“Across the players and staff, everyone has bought into it. The feeling in the group is incredible. I think it has made a big difference.
“There were some fantastic things that we will show the boys on Monday, and there will still be things to work on. But it’s been a really good week.”
The Swans squad was given a short break at the start of the four week lay off which followed an intense period of games that saw us head into the break in 8th place in the table but in touching distance of the play off positions.
“We were really pleased with the mentality the lads showed after a short break,” added Martin.
“They have come back with a willingness and appetite to work seriously hard, and we have been through a really honest analysis of where we are at and the season so far.
“We have looked at what has been good, what has not been so good and what we want and need to improve on.
I think we will look back at this as an important part of the process and a chance to use the break wisely.”
