Williams hints at rotation as Swans prepare for Norwich test 

Looking to carry on his side’s fine upturn in form which has seen three wins on the bounce all with clean sheets for the first time since 2012, Williams is, however, mindful of making too many changes and disrupting continuity in his squad against the play-off chasing Canaries. 

Last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town showed the Londoner’s side are not resting on their laurels. Despite securing safety in the division a week previous with back-to-back home wins over Stoke and Rotherham, Williams is still looking for continued improvement within his squad with much work to do on and off the field over the summer before the new season begins. 

This weekend’s opposition Norwich lie in sixth-place in the Championship table, three points ahead of seventh-placed Hull City. With two games left to play, it is very much a case of no room for errors in the run-in for David Wagner’s side.  

The trip to East Anglia to face a Canaries side unbeaten at Carrow Road since early November will be a sterner challenge for Willliams’ side than of late but a chance to see how far they have come in recent weeks.  

To get a fourth win in a row for the first time since October, the Swans will have to break through one of the more frugal defenses in the league, with Norwich conceding just eight goals in their last 15 games on home soil. 

With no further injury worries to note the Swans boss revealed that he will still be without Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen and Przemysław Płacheta, whilst Josh Ginnelly will not be considered this term. 

“We will be in a very similar position to where we were last week in terms of selection,” said Williams. 

“We have that [introducing young players] in mind, but there is a balance between just dishing out appearances when they haven’t been earned. 

“At the same time, there is an opportunity for players to get out there and feel it and that will give them a lot of motivation over the summer. 

“It is a balancing act, and we want to play each game to win because it becomes a habit. 

“I think it is going to be something in between because we will be thinking about these young players. Some of them have earned it and we will be balancing out the pros and cons. 

“It will be perfect for us because we want to be in a game. The opposition are going to be there to make sure they secure their play-off position. 

“Huddersfield [last week] were fighting for their Championship status and that suited us well. 

“We know we are playing against good Championship opposition, and it is going to be tough. 

“They are in good form at home, but we are off the back of three victories, three clean sheets and eight goals scored. 

“The last two games the opposition hasn’t registered a shot on target against us so we have to try and continue that as best as we possibly can. That will then create a new identity for us moving forward.” 

Williams would also reveal that the Swans have activated a clause in striker Liam Cullen’s contract that will see the Haverfordwest product stay with the club until the end of the 2024/25 season. The former academy product has scored seven goals in 47 appearances this season and 20 in 117 senior appearances since making his first-team debut in 2018. 

“We triggered the option [of a one-year extension]. We have been talking with Culls [Liam Cullen] and have always had this option and went with that path. 

“I’m really happy with a lot of the things I am seeing from him. I knew him before, but I think the commitment and running he is doing for the team and the intelligence behind it he knows what he is doing. 

“I know he can score goals, but I want him to be even more ruthless than he is because I believe in him and think he is such a valuable member of the squad. 

“He understands a lot of things that it could take a player a long time to understand – both about the club and how I want the players to behave and perform.” 

[Lead image: Swansea City FC]