Steve Cooper faced the media today on Thursday afternoon of Swansea City's final game before the last international break of 2019.

The Swans lock horns with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday, with ex-Swan Garry Monk set to take on his former employers for the third time in his managerial career.

Swansea are the only side in the English Football League with an unbeaten record away from home in the league this term while the Owls have not lost at home in the Championship under Monk.

So something has to give this weekend.

The visitors will once again be without defender Joe Rodon, goalkeeper Erwin Mulder and attacker Aldo Kalulu due to injury while they have been dealt a further blow as Jordon Garrick is set for three months on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in training. 

Cooper covered that and more in today's press briefing.

And you can relive it all right here.

That's a wrap

Thanks for joining us.

Head to our Swansea City page for the latest news.

Goodbye!

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'Conversations had' over outfield player in goal

Outfield player to go in goal if needed after Man City last night?

Cooper: “It’s a conversation we’ve had.

“You have to plan for everything. That’s one that hopefully we don’t have to do.

“I watched the game and it was quite interesting to see. It’s a reminder that you need to be ready.”

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Connor Roberts 'done well for Wales'

Cooper: “He’s done well for Wales.

“Hopefully he can continue staying in the team. Everyone knows we’ve got two really good right-backs in Connor and Kyle (Naughton).

“For them two, I think it will be swings and roundabouts in terms of who plays in which games.

“My job is to try and get the right one on the pitch for the game.

“They’re both really good players and excellent professionals. Kyle came on as a sub against Birmingham and scored, Connor comes on at Wigan in a different position and puts the ball in for the winner.”

On Roberts...

“He’s not that young now, he’s 24.

“He’s played a lot of games with his loan spells as well.

“He’s not new to this. It’s not just the right-backs, there’s always players not going to make the team or the squad.

“You’ve got to be really selective with what subs you have available as well.

“We’re leaving some good players behind at times. You look at Ben Wilmot, Mike (van der Hoorn) and Joe were excellent until Joe’s injury, then Ben comes in and has to hit the ground running.”

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Cooper pays tribute to Monk

Cooper: “I spent a lot of time since joining the club looking into the past and trying to understand what it represents and I’ve been quite public in talking about the good days and the rise to the Premier League.

“Having Leon and Tatey here, Monk was always another player mentioned in that era. That needs to be recognised, and then obviously turning to manager as well.

“He’s an established manager now as well, he’s had some big jobs. We look at it knowing we’re coming up against a guy that has a really positive history with Swansea, but for me, I know I’m up against an experienced manager.

“I don’t know him personally but I’m sure there’s a few guys here looking forward to seeing him.”

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'Too early' to talk January plans

Cooper: “January is a pivotal moment because of the window.

“It can get a little bit messy but at the moment it’s still a touch too early to be talking about that.

“We’ve got a load of games but we know that time is coming, we need to be in the best position to know where we want to go with things.”

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Striving for consistency

The table doesn’t lie, does it?

Cooper: “A couple of games we didn’t win and we didn’t get too low, but it always gives you another chance this league, and quickly.

“That’s what everyone is after in the league, a bit of consistency, that’s so key in this league.

“The more consistency you can get, it will serve you right. That’s what we’re striving for because we believe in what we do. Hopefully that will help us.”

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Is the word 'promotion' banned?

Cooper: “No.

“We focus on performance. We believe we go through a process of reviewing games and if we get it right it’ll serve us well.”

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Are Swansea promotion contenders?

Cooper: “One game at a time. We were talking about it walking over, and we’ve got one game now before the break then three games in a week.

“A week can change things for the better or for the worse. I am getting a bit boring with my answers but if you look too far ahead things can quickly change and it can bite you.

“There’s nine points to play for straight after the break. If it goes your way it makes a big difference but it can go the other way.

“Anything you get in this league you earn, and that’s why we take every day and game as it comes and try and be the best we can every day.”

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Previewing Sheffield Wednesday

“Cooper: “It’s a game we’re really looking forward to, it’s a big club and an iconic stadium. We’ll be ready.

“We’re not talking too much about our away run, we take each game as it comes.

“We don’t have a different approach whether we’re home or away, we try to win each game. So far it’s served us well and the plans won’t change.”

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'Too early' to make Surridge move permanent

Asked about potentially making Surridge’s loan permanent, Cooper says:

“Not yet. It’s too early. There’s a few lads on loan here.”

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Sam Surridge pushing to start

Asked if Surridge is pushing to start:

“He has been all season to be honest.

“Sam will want to start more games than he has and I’m sure at some stage he will.

“He’s had a positive impact on the team and he showed he can play in more than one position. He’s broken into the England U21 squad so I really feel he’s progressing.

“He’s knocking on the door. If he plays like he did at the weekend then he’s ready to score more goals. In his own words, he loves it here.

“He comes from a good, stable club in Bournemouth. I know he’s not in a rush to get back home, and that’s a good sign.

“Fans seem to have taken to him as well. He’s very popular here and he’s one of the lads.”

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On Dyer: 'I was pleased he scored!'

Nathan Dyer dedicated his goal against Wigan Athletic at the weekend to his daughter Ataliyah, who was recently born five weeks premature.

On the celebration, Cooper says:

“I was pleased he scored!

“It was his first away goal for five years.

“I’m not aware of what was said but I know he’s an excellent person and a really good player.

“He had to bide his time a little bit it’s great to have him back in the team.

“He’s an experienced player. He’s seen it all before at a higher level than the Championship.

“He’s focused on being his best and he’s really keen on helping others around him as well. He’s such a positive influence.”

Dyer’s wife was in hospital for about four weeks before their daughter was born and later had to have an emergency C-section. You can read the full story here.

Cooper added:

“Nothing is bigger than family and looking after your own. We see it.

“We gave him the time he needed. More importantly for him was to be around his wife and his two boys. Touch wood, everything is great now. He’s really happy. “

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Full details on Garrick's hamstring injury

On Garrick, Cooper says:

“It was so innocuous.

“It was a training ground muscle injury.

“When the scan results came back, it’s a tendon in the hamstring. It happens in professional football, lads are prone to getting injured.

“I had a chat with him this week. He’s a positive lad, we recently moved him and Ben Cabango into the first team changing room because they’d made that step and belonged to be there.

“But you have to get on with it.”

Jordon Garrick
Jordon Garrick (Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
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Injury updates on Rodon, Garrick, Mulder and Kalulu

Here we go.

Steve Cooper is in, and we begin with some injury updates.

“There’s a couple out.

“Joe had a successful operation. He’s been in and around the training ground and he’s at the start of his rehab.

“Jordon Garrick also picked up an injury as well this week. It’s ruled him out for a similar amount of time.

“It’s a blow and Erwin (Mulder) is close to being back in training. After the international break he’ll be back fully.

“Aldo (Kalulu) has been in training this week. He won’t be available this week.”

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Cooper's press conference imminent

Steve Cooper’s press conference will get underway shortly.

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A closer look at Monk

The Swans come up against Garry Monk once again this weekend.

And he’s had quite a career in management over the last few years.

Here’s the full story on his turbulent career in the dugout so far.

Garry Monk has experienced a turbulent time
Garry Monk has experienced a turbulent time (Image: PA)
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30 to go

Just over 30 minutes to go until we hear from Steve Cooper.

Stay tuned!

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Swansea City's transfer links to Liverpool starlet rated

The Swans were linked with a loan swoop for Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster a few days ago.

Here’s what would need to happen for that potential swoop to actually play out.

Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster
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Match poll

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Woodman on life at Swansea

“I’m really enjoying it. You come up against teams every week who are giving you a different challenge.

“I feel I am getting better and learning something every week. It’s brilliant for my development and I hope it is also helping Swansea because of the faith they have shown in me.

“I am delighted with how things are going. Our defensive performances have been good. I think I’ve developed a good relationship with the players – the back four especially.

“It was important that I understood what type of players they are and for them to understand the type of goalkeeper I am.

“I also like to think I’ve got a good rapport with the fans because they have been fantastic to me since I arrived.”

Freddie Woodman

Steve Cooper with Freddie Woodman
Steve Cooper with Freddie Woodman (Image: Athena Pictures/Getty Images)
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Welcome

Good morning everyone!

The Swans have one more match before the final international break of the calendar year.

It’s a tough one, and it will pit the Swans against a former player and manager in Garry Monk...

We’ll bring you all of the latest news from Steve Cooper’s pre-Sheffield Wednesday press conference right here.

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