These are your Swansea City headlines on Thursday, August 11.
Cullen talks helped Garrick with Imps move
Jordon Garrick has revealed advice from Liam Cullen convinced him to join Lincoln City on loan.
The Jamaican will spend the duration of the 2022/23 on loan with the Imps - the side who had both Cullen and Morgan Whittaker in their ranks for the second-half of last term.
And Garrick - who has one year left to run on his Swansea deal - says he needed a fresh move following a decade in south Wales.
“I'm super happy to be here - I've been at Swansea now for 10 years and it feels like this is the right club to take my career to the next step," he told the Lincoln City website.
"I spoke to Liam Cullen, who was on loan here last season, he said it was a great group of lads and a well-run club. He said how passionate the fans are and spoke nothing but positively about the club.
"The head coach was a winger and someone I feel I can learn off. He speaks really highly of the fans, the staff and club in general."
Pundit 'surprised' Piroe hasn't moved
Pundit Jobi McAnuff, speaking on Sky Sports' Transfer Show, says he's surprised Joel Piroe is still a Swansea player.
He refers to Leeds United and Leicester City interest in the Dutchman but as things stand those aren't concrete links at all. Swansea have yet to receive any offer for the striker.
But McAnuff says his situation stands out.
“There are some there I am quite surprised are still in the Championship,” said McAnuff ( via HITC ). “The one who really stands out is Joel Piroe from Swansea City.
“They purchased him for a snip at £1 million from PSV. I know they don’t want to sell him. He has two years left on his contract, but he scored 22 league goals and six assists last season. Left-footed. Can play on the right. I like him down the middle.
“Apparent interest that Leicester and Leeds United want him.”
Swansea would be loath to lose the 22-year-old, such has been his impact in the white shirt.
Allen grateful for fan reception
Joe Allen says he was grateful to the Jack Army for the reception he received when he entered the pitch during Swansea's clash with Oxford United.
The midfielder made his long-awaited return to action for the Swans in the Carabao Cup loss to The U's and received rapturous applause from the 873 away fans at the Kassam Stadium. And while the result did not go his side's way, the Welshman admitted he was overjoyed to make his second debut for the club.
“I am really grateful for the reception I got from the supporters when I came on, even when I was warming up," he told the club website. "It was incredible and it has been a long time coming.
“It was great to put the shirt on, it always is, I just wish it could have been a result to go with it.
“But we have to now make sure we get ready to play in the league again, all the boys are determined to make sure we are ready to go and perform and get a result.
“It’s vital we bounce back, we all know that. We had a disappointment against Blackburn and I don’t think anyone could say they did not see a positive reaction over the first hour or so in midweek."
Defeat might work in our favour - Appleton
Like Swansea, Blackpool crashed out of the cup to lower league opposition on Tuesday night.
Their manager, Michael Appleton - who was previously on the list of contenders to become Swansea boss - believes they won't be affected by that loss to League Two side Barrow.
“We will lick our wounds, it won’t affect the players too much," he told local media. "They know from a performance point of view there wasn’t an awful lot wrong.
“But I think when you progress in the cups it can happen two ways, can’t it? You can either create a bit of momentum with your league form or it can become an issue and a problem.
“I would have preferred to go through because I’ve got a decent record in cup competitions, so I wanted to do it again. But it hasn’t happened. “Who knows? It might actually work in our favour.”
Brandy's scouting network comes to Wales
Former Swan Febian Brandy's Skouted company will be holding trials in south Wales later this year.
The Manchester United youth product - who had two loan stints with the Swans - set-up the scouting company in order to give players a second chance in the game. He has regularly held trials across the United Kingdom in recent years in order to identify talent who have not been given further opportunities to make a career in the game.
Premier League, English Football League and National League scouts will all cast their eyes over talent at the event on December 4 - with Sky Sports set to be in attendance for Brandy's final three events of 2022 - which also include Birmingham and London - for the first time. The south Wales event is for players aged between 17 and 21. The full details for the trials are available here.
You can read our full interview with Brandy from 2019 on his Skouted network here.
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