RUN-IN WILL SPUR US ON – HOURIHANE
SWANSEA City have nine games left to seal an automatic promotion spot in the Championship. They could yet secure a route to the Premier League via the play-offs should they be unable to overhaul second-placed Watford in the coming weeks.
And Conor Hourihane – who has won promotion with Barnsley and Aston Villa during his career – is already relishing the run-in as Steve Cooper’s men look to give it their all to achieve their dream of returning to the top flight.
“I love it when things are this way. It was the same for me at Barnsley and it has been the same almost throughout my time at Villa,” he told the club’s official website.
“It is exciting. Your career is short, so you always want to be involved in a team that is striving for something.
“You want games to have something on them, to be important and be a factor in what the future of the club holds.
“I know I am on loan, but I want to make a difference here, I want to help this club get to where it wants to be.
“That’s why I will always take these situations over playing 10 games at the end of the year in mid-table.
“Don’t get me wrong, you always want to win and perform, but knowing you are fighting for promotion is a different feeling.
“I know what it’s like getting promoted to the Premier League, and I know what it’s like coming down that final stretch and I loved it.
“You’re a footballer, this is what you want, to be fighting to achieve things at the business end of the season. I am excited about it, I can tell you that without any doubt.”
Hourihane did not link up with the Republic of Ireland for the international break after sustaining a hamstring injury in his side’s 1-0 loss to Cardiff City.
Swansea are currently six points adrift of Watford, although they boast a game in hand over the Hornets.
Xisco Munoz’s side play six sides currently in the top 10 over the course of their final eight matches, including Swansea at Vicarage Road on the final day of the campaign.
With just nine games left in the regular season, Swansea are just one point behind their total of 70 achieved throughout the 2019-20 campaign.
They return to action against Birmingham City on Friday.