Swansea City kicked off their pre-season preparations over the weekend as the first-team squad returned to Fairwood for testing. Head coach Vitor Matos will oversee the training regimen over the coming weeks ahead of the season opener in August.
Key Players Present
A video posted on the club's social media channels showed several key figures taking part, including Zan Vipotnik, Liam Cullen, Ben Cabango, and Adam Idah. Also spotted were Bobby Wales and Filip Lissah, both of whom have returned from loan spells. Lissah, in particular, is expected to get a chance to shine after a successful stint with Scottish side Falkirk.
Florian Bianchini, who had a difficult loan at Portsmouth, is back with the squad, as is Ollie Cooper, whose future at the club remains uncertain. "Of course we need to speak about his future," Matos said about Cooper towards the end of last season. "We need to see what is best for him and best for the club. But that is something we will take care of inside the club."
World Cup Trio Absent
Three players who participated in the World Cup are yet to report for duty. Eom Jisung, Cameron Burgess, and Marko Stamenic have been granted additional time off following their international commitments. Joel Ward, who is now out of contract, also did not return, leaving his future uncertain.
Aside from these absences, the squad was otherwise at full strength. The club's two new signings, winger Moussa Yeo and defender Stephen Welsh, joined their teammates for the first time. Yeo introduced himself to the group, saying: "I'm Moussa Yeo and I'm happy to be here." Welsh also expressed his delight, describing the squad as "a lovely group" and sharing a joke that drew a laugh from Matos.
Looking Ahead
With pre-season now underway, Swansea City will focus on building fitness and integrating new players as they prepare for the new campaign. The club's supporters will be keen to see how the squad shapes up under Matos, especially with the return of loanees and the arrival of fresh talent.
