Rodriguez’s Claret boost
But the former Chelsea midfielder is just glad the Baggies still have a chance of breaking into the play-offs on the final day of the season. The West Midlanders must beat Swansea away tomorrow to keep their promotion hopes alive. The Baggies are hovering in eighth spot, just two points adrift of the top six.
But Carlos Corberan’s ambitious side need to win and hope other results go their way if they are going to keep themselves in the mix. “If we don’t win then nothing else matters, so it’s a simple equation in that respect,” said Swift.
“There’s no doubt we could have made life easier for ourselves but we’re still in with a shout and the lads are feeling good.
“If you’d have asked me at the start of the season about our position now, then I’d have been a bit sceptical because we wanted to be higher.
“But we’ve just got to win, take care of ourselves and get a bit lucky and hope other results go our way.”
Swift, 27, played for Reading when they lost the 2017 Championship play-off final, 4-3 on penalties to Huddersfield.
And it’s hardly surprising the former England Under-21s international would love to have another crack at promotion.
“It takes a lot of determination and effort to get to the play-off semi-finals,” he added.
“It would be a fantastic achievement if we managed to get there.” The Swans beat the Baggies 3-2 earlier in the season and midfielder Ryan Manning – who earlier this week scooped the club’s player of the season award – said: “Hopefully we can finish strong.
“We have been through some tough moments and it is testament to the character of the squad and everyone at this football club.”
MANAGER Chris Wilder hinted that academy stars such as Jack Grieves and Adrian Blake could add to their senior minutes for Watford.
Samuel Kalu (hamstring) and Francisco Sierralta (foot) are on the way back, but lack fitness.
Stoke boss Alex Neil may shake up his squad as they look to finish the campaign on a high.
He said on Thursday: “We won’t have a clean bill of health.
“I can’t even promise no new injuries.”
JAY RODRIGUEZ is expected to feature as the champions host Cardiff, where Johann Berg Gudmundsson could make his 200th Burnley appearance.
After three months out with a knee injury, Rodriguez came off the bench to score his first goal since November with the winner at Bristol City last time out.
Manuel Benson – who has scored in the past four apearances for the Clarets – is expected to start up front once again, but defender Jordan Beyer (foot) may remain sidelined.
Nathan Tella and Hjalmar Ekdal are both not likely to return, with the duo suffering from respective hip problems.
Cardiff captain Joe Ralls hopes to pass a fitness test after he went off with a muscle injury against Huddersfield Town last time out after game number 350 for his club.
Ebou Adams continues on the road to recovery after suffering a series of setbacks since joining from Forest Green Rovers last year and misses out.
Callum O’dowda will be sidelined again due to concussion protocols, while the match may come too soon for goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, with Jak Alnwick expected to start again in goal.