Swans v Burnley: The big talking points

9th February
First team

​​​​​​​Swansea City will look to extend their unbeaten run to nine games when they take on Burnley this weekend.

But Carlos Carvalhal’s men know nothing will come easy against Sean Dyche’s seventh-placed Clarets side.

Here are all the key talking points heading into the game.

 

Swans on a roll

Tuesday’s record-breaking victory over Notts County means the Swans are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions.

That is the club’s lengthiest sequence without defeat in the Premier League era, for the last time they went this long without losing was during a nine-game stretch back in 2009-10.

The current run is all the more impressive given what went before.

Prior to this stretch, the Swans’ longest unbeaten run this season was a mere two matches.

 

Brothers in arms

Jordan and Andre Ayew have been team-mates for Ghana many times, but they have not been part of the same club side for quite a while.

The brothers both came through the ranks at Marseille, making a number of appearances together for the French heavyweights.

The most recent of those was in November 2013, when both started – and Andre scored – in a 3-2 Champions League defeat at Napoli.

Not long after that, Jordan joined Sochaux on loan before a permanent move to Lorient.

Their careers have since taken different paths, but they could be back on the same team this weekend.

It is an intriguing prospect.

 

Welcome back Jack

Jack Cork makes his first return to the Liberty this weekend, and he will surely be given a warm reception.

A dependable player and a fine pro, Cork was a popular figure in the Swans dressing room during a two-and-a-half year stint as a Swans player

He left last summer after club agreed a deal with Burnley, and has done so well in the claret shirt that he was capped by England earlier this season.

 

Another reshuffle?

Carvalhal continued his policy of mass rotation in the Emirates FA Cup as he made seven changes for the midweek win over Notts County.

The likelihood is that he will go back to something close to the side which began at Leicester last Saturday for Burnley’s visit, although there will be at least one change given that Leroy Fer is now on the long-term injury list.

It must be said, though, that many of those players who were summoned for cup duty served up a reminder to Carvlhal that they can have an impact.

 

Take a bow, Burnley

Only the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal are above Burnley in the Premier League table, so Dyche’s team deserve huge credit for their efforts so far this season.

Known for their organisation, discipline and willingness to put in a shift, Burnley have a habit of staying in games even when things are not going their way.

As well as plenty of endeavour, they also have enough quality going forward to do damage in the top flight.

They do not score many goals – only two sides in the division have managed fewer in the league this season – but have an exceptional defensive record.

Burnley have not won in their last 10 games, but held Manchester City last time out and eased past the Swans when these two clubs met at Turf Moor in November.

Certainly, anything Carvalhal’s side get this weekend will have to be earned.

 

King of the Liberty?

Andy King has tended to enjoy facing the Swans over years.

In 10 appearances for Leicester against the Liberty club, he has been part of seven Foxes victories and managed a couple of important goals.

Now the Swans hope King can start helping their cause.

Having signed on loan from Leicester on deadline day, King is eligible for the first time this weekend and will hope for a taste of the action.

 

* There are some tickets still available for Saturday's clash with Burnley. You can book yours HERE.

* Hospitality lounges and the Riverside Lounge will be showing the early kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday and the England v Wales Six Nations match after the Burnley game. The hospitality lounges will open at 12.30pm while the Riverside Lounge will open at 1pm.