Jake Bidwell looking to hit the ground running

Jake Bidwell has his sights set on carrying his strong form over the closing stages of last season into Swansea City’s 2020-21 campaign.

The left-back joined the Swans in the summer of 2019 after leaving QPR, and proved to be a reliable and consistent performer for head coach Steve Cooper.

And he ended the campaign on song, relishing the tweak of formation that saw him utilised as a wing-back and making a big impact with his forays down the flank, including an assist for Rhian Brewster’s memorable strike at Nottingham Forest.

With a year in Swansea under his belt, Bidwell is now keen to make sure he again hits the heights when the new season starts against Newport in the Carabao Cup on Saturday.

“I really enjoyed my first season in Swansea, I feel a bit more familiar here now. I am not the new boy, I am settled and I hope that is a help moving forward," he said.

“I felt like I finished the season strongly on a personal level last year, as we did as a team, and the goal for me is to make sure the form is strong again from the start this time.”

Having finished last term with 11 games in just 40 days, there is little respite to come in a Championship season starting over a month later than would usually be the case.

The league campaign will include 13 midweek fixtures sandwiched between weekend games.

It may sound daunting, but Bidwell believes the hectic schedule once football resumed in June means Swansea will be ready to face such demands again.

“It doesn’t hold any fears,” he said of the schedule.

“At the best of times the Championship is busy, so we know what to expect and what is to come, what it demands of you.

“There’s no surprises there, we’ll be ready.”