Your Swansea City headlines for Tuesday, April 19.
Piroe representatives pleased with Swans progress
Russell Martin has revealed Joel Piroe's representatives are delighted with the Dutchman's progress during his debut season at Swansea City.
The forward took his goal tally to 22 for the season with his brace in the 4-4 draw at Reading on Easter Monday. Those strikes against the Royals mean Piroe has bagged five goals in his last four outings.
Leicester City have been linked with a summer transfer swoop for Piroe as a result of his remarkable progress in south Wales since joining the Swans from PSV Eindhoven. And head coach Martin has revealed he has held discussions with the 22-year-old's management team regarding his future.
"It's about making sure we keep improving people as much as possible," Martin told WalesOnline. "It's the same with Joel Piroe. His representatives, I've spoken to them on a few occasions now about his future here, what it looks like how much he's enjoyed it.
"Their appreciation might have been very different if he played for another Championship team. They're very pleased that he came here and it's gone the way it has."
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Ince fumes with Naughton
Paul Ince took aim at Kyle Naughton after stating the Swansea man disrespected Reading during the 4-4 draw between the sides on Monday.
Swansea were cruising at 4-1 up but conceded three times after the hour mark as the points were shared at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. And speaking after the match, Ince was critical of defender Naughton.
"It's funny because, I feel like we deserved a point for our efforts," he said. "I'm not going to stand here and say we were the better team. They're a very good footballing team. As a manager, Russell Martin is probably thinking 'we're 4-1 up, we should see the game out'. And for all purposes, they should have done.
"There was a little situation in the middle of the park where Kyle Naughton started juggling in the middle of the park, and I thought to myself, 'that's just a lack of disrespect' [respect]. And sometimes you get punished for those little things."
On his team's comeback, Ince said: "I sense a togetherness that is being forged as we all try to keep this team in the league. And today was amazing. This point was so important. An amazing day."
Read more: What Swansea City would now need to make the play-offs as collapse sucks hope from unlikely chance
Downes injury boost after Reading showing
Flynn Downes was withdrawn in the second half of the 4-4 draw against Reading due to a lack of match fitness, it has been revealed.
The midfielder missed the three matches prior to the game in Berkshire owing to a knee injury and was replaced by Jay Fulton shortly after the hour mark against Paul Ince's side. But Downes has allayed fears over a recurrence of the injury by confirming he was merely short of full match sharpness due to a spell on the sidelines.
“I felt good – little bit unfit if I’m honest but my knee felt good so hopefully I can keep going now and get the match fitness back,” he told the club website.
Read more: Leeds United's hopes of signing Swansea City's Flynn Downes just got a telling response
Downes impressed during his 64 minutes on the pitch, topping Swansea's pass accuracy chart while also earning an assist. And the Englishman says his side need to learn the lessons of their capitulation at Reading ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
“I don’t really know what to say. We were 4-1 up and cruising,” he added. “Obviously they threw everything at it, but I suppose that’s what happens when you get deeper into the season, because it was just a case for them of having nothing to lose. And you could see that in their performance, but we’ve got to do better.
“It’s happened a couple of times where we’ve absolutely dominated teams in the first half and then they’ve come out second half and throw everything at it. We end up playing their game, but we have to learn from that and play our game for the full 90 minutes.”
