Swans v Newcastle: The big talking points
Swansea City go in search of their first home victory of the new season when they host Newcastle United this weekend.
We look at all the key talking points heading into the big game.
HOME RUN
Defeat to Manchester United last time out at the Liberty Stadium ended the Swans’ run of three successive home victories.
That sequence came at the end of last season as Paul Clement’s team made a late surge for Premier League survival.
If 2017-18 is to be a less stressful campaign, the Swans must be tougher to beat on their own patch than they were in the first half of last term.
Their efforts since Clement took charge suggest they will be.
LIBERTY EX
There is likely to be a familiar face in the Newcastle squad this weekend, with Jonjo Shelvey set to return to the Liberty Stadium for the first time since he swapped Wales for Tyneside in January 2016.
Shelvey had some fine moments in SA1 following his move from Liverpool back in 2013, becoming the first ever current Swan to be capped by England.
But this season has not started well for the midfielder, who has just served a three-match ban following a red card on the opening weekend.
CALLING THE TOON
Francesco Guidolin’s Swans side finished up well beaten – the final score was 3-0 – when these two clubs last met in the spring of 2016.
Nevertheless, the Swans have an impressive record against this weekend’s opponents in the Premier League.
There have been 10 meetings since Brendan Rodgers’s team were promoted back in 2011.
Of those, there have been only two Newcastle wins, two draws and six Swans victories.
Clement’s men aim for triumph No. 7 on Sunday.
DOUBLE DEBUT?
The Swans did some notable business shortly before the summer transfer window closed, with Wilfried Bony returning from Manchester City and Renato Sanches joining on loan from Bayern Munich.
Both players are available for the Newcastle game, although it remains to be seen whether either goes straight into Clement’s starting XI.
Bony last played in the Premier League back in December, while Sanches has only just arrived in Wales because he has been on international duty with Portugal’s under-21 side.
There is a third new face who is likely to be on display, with Sam Clucas set for a home Swans debut after playing 90 minutes in the win at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.
AIR JORDAN
Jordan Ayew has been on his travels during the international break – and on his sickbed.
Ayew played for Ghana s they drew 1-1 with Congo in a World Cup qualifier in Kumasi last Friday, but was then ruled out of the return fixture on Tuesday due to illness.
He was pictured being treated in hospital in his homeland, but the Swans are confident he will be fit to feature against Newcastle.
And that is good news given that Ayew has scored in his last two club appearances.
RAFA’S RECORD
The Jack Army will forever remember the time when they got the better of Rafael Benitez’s Chelsea side over two legs in the 2012-13 Capital One Cup semi-final.
However, the respected Newcastle boss – who has had surgery this week following an infection – has had his share of good days against the Swans.
In the Premier League a few months after their League Cup defeat, Benitez’s Blues beat the Swans 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
And Benitez was in charge at Newcastle when they won 3-0 on the Swans’ last visit to Tyneside, in April 2016.
Benitez has also faced the Swans in Europe. He was Napoli boss when they knocked Garry Monk’s team out of the Europa League in 2013-14 courtesy of a goalless draw at the Liberty and a 3-1 second leg win in Italy.
