FALTERING SWANS GET ALDO BOOST
‘Exciting’ forward is ready to shine
SWANSEA are ready to unleash fit-again forward Aldo Kalulu on high-flying West Brom after the 23-year-old finally ended almost four months of injury hell.
Signed on a season-long loan from Swiss side FC Basel in the summer, Kalulu has not featured since August 17 when he was withdrawn midway through a 3-2 victory over Preston.
Diagnosed with an ankle sprain and slated to return within days, a series of complications led to a longer spell on the sidelines than anticipated.
But a return to training and a scintillating turn for the Swans’ Under-23s against Colchester has convinced manager Steve Cooper that Kalulu is primed for an assault on the Championship.
“Aldo’s available,” confirmed Cooper, whose side travel to West Brom protecting the EFL’s only unbeaten record away from home.
“He’s finished his rehab, which included playing a few games. He’s been in training a few weeks so he’s in contention, definitely.
“It’s not just the fans who haven’t seen him. It’s us, too. He only made two appearances and he didn’t train much before that.
“But he’s obviously familiar to us and he’s an established member of the group. He’s versatile in terms of his position. He can play anywhere across the front. He’s very quick and dynamic. He plays with the idea of getting in behind the backline, so he’s an exciting player. It’ll be brilliant to see him out there.”
Kalulu’s return to action comes at a potentially decisive time, and not just because Wayne Routledge is ruled out with a calf strain.
After a blistering start to the season that saw them spend six weeks in the top two, Swansea have won just three of their past 13 matches and none of the last four - their worst winless run of the campaign.
Heading into the weekend, they had also scored fewer goals
- 24 - than any other side in the top half of the Championship.
Despite a relatively lofty position in the table pre-weekend (eighth), only six teams had scored fewer goals from open play than Cooper’s side, whilst their stats for dribbles and crosses per game also rank amongst the lowest in the division, especially away from home.
A direct and unpredictable player like Kalulu could be just what the Swans need to galvanise their attack, though an established striker to ease the burden on Andre Ayew wouldn’t hurt either.
Stories emerged this week that Cooper has made contact with former club Liverpool over Rhian Brewster, a player he managed for the England age groups.
“I know him well,” said Cooper, who spent five years managing the Reds’ academy. “He’s a good lad and a good player.
“I follow a lot of players’ careers that I’ve worked with and he had a bit of bad luck with injury, but it’s good to see him back and playing. I definitely like him as a player and a person, but there’s nothing happening at the moment. I think Liverpool will decide whether he needs a loan or not.”
As for West Brom, beaten just once all season and formidable on home turf, Cooper has urged his players to travel with a ‘can do’ attitude.
“There’s big expectations around West Brom with the investment they’ve had in the team,” he added. “Slaven Bilic is a good manager so they have that as well.
“We look forward to every game we play and that is no different whether we play at home or away. We’ve got to get excited about these things.”