These are your Swansea City headlines on Sunday, February 27.
Grimes backs Martin to take Swans up
Matt Grimes believes Russell Martin "has what it takes" to get Swansea back in the Premier League.
Martin arrived in SA1 just days before the start of the season, with the campaign to date littered with peaks and troughs with players struggling to acclimatise to the new man's methods
Swansea currently sit 17th in the Championship but skipper Grimes believes that the club "will get there" under his stewardship - and feels the top flight is within their grasp at some point under the head coach.
"I want to play in the Premier League with Swansea again," he said.
"I love the club and I truly believe that he [Martin] has got what it takes, his ideas, bringing players through and hopefully adding one or two as well.
"We will get there."
Grimes penned a new deal with the club last November, with the midfielder key to Martin's vision going forward. The captain says he would not have agreed to extend his stay if he did not believe in the project.
"I think it's there for all to see this year that we've been top in some of the games, it's just about finding that consistency," he added.
"I'm really enjoying it [playing under Martin] - probably more than I have done in my whole career to be honest.
"I wouldn't have signed a new deal if I didn't believe in what the manager is doing and how he's going about getting the team playing in a certain way.
"I'm absolutely loving it, the lads are loving it, the vibe is good in the training ground. We've had a few difficult moments but we're looking forward to the future."
Whittaker makes team of tournament
Swansea's Morgan Whittaker has been named in the EFL Carabao Cup team of the tournament.
Whittaker, who left the club to join Lincoln City on loan in January, played in three games in the competition for Swansea - the 3-0 win over Reading, the 4-1 victory against Plymouth and the 2-0 defeat to Brighton.
He scored an 11-minute hat-trick against The Pilgrims, no doubt earning him his spot alongside the likes of Chelsea's Reece James, Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe and Brentford's Marcus Forss.
Full team: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Marcos Alonso, Robert Dickie, Reece James, Cedric Soares; Yoane Wissa, Saul Níguez, Morgan Whittaker, Nicolas Pepe; Marcus Forss, Emil Riis Jakobsen.
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Swans send Tosh best wishes
Swansea have joined the football community in sending their best wishes to legend John Toshack.
News emerged on Sunday morning that the former Swans player-manager was in hospital in Barcelona fighting Covid.
His condition is believed to be serious.
Swansea tweeted a message in support of their legendary manager, saying: "The thoughts of everyone at Swansea City are with John Toshack and his family. We are all with you. Keep fighting."
Real Madrid, who Toshack managed on two different occasions, also sent on their best.
A tweet from the Spanish giants read: "Real Madrid C. F., its president and its Board of Directors wish to send a message of support and affection to our dear John Benjamin Toshack, who we send courage and strength to in these moments."
Supporters also rallied around for 72-year-old Toshack, who masterminded Swansea's rise from the old Fourth Division to the top flight.
Bruce longs for 'dirty victory'
West Brom boss Steve Bruce says his side just need a bit of luck to kickstart their season again.
The Hawthorns side haven't won in six games and have slid out of the play-off reckoning, having been top of the pile in October.
Bruce, who only arrived at the club in recent weeks, is desperate to arrest their form, starting against Swansea tomorrow.
The experienced manager knows it can all change with one "dirty victory".
"It's a football cliche. But you just need one win," Bruce told BBC Radio WM.
"You just need a 1-0, in off the referee, off someone's backside, whatever."
"Usually when a new manager goes in, there's a bit of a bounce, which we haven't been able to create," Bruce added.
"We haven't been able to sustain it over a full 90 minutes, which is a bit of a concern but it's my job to try to turn it round and get that win, because a win changes a lot, very quickly, in this league or any other."
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