TAMMY’S A WORK IN PROGRESS
TAMMY ABRAHAM’S credentials as a lethal finisher have never been in doubt — 26 goals on loan at Bristol city in the championship last season and dozens more in chelsea’s youth ranks attest to that. But now Swansea city manager Paul clement wants to build the 20-year-old up into the complete centre forward. Though the chelsea loanee (left) scored twice in Swansea’s win over huddersfield, it was his allround performance that caught the eye. ‘he is very quick but I felt in some games he is a little bit static,’ said clement. ‘We wanted him to attack the back of defences more and we saw that in this game. ‘he’s a big boy but sometimes you are up there alone against two central defenders. one will come tight and aggressive and the other one is cover, so how can you be better at holding the ball up? ‘he is learning quick. This is a big step up to this level from what he has done before.’
abraham has now scored five goals this season. ‘ Ultimately, he is a goalscorer and he has shown he can score at this level already. You don’t see many 20-year-olds playing in the Premier league and scoring goals.
‘Maybe we can help him make that step to playing at his parent club chelsea in the future,’ clement said.
Swansea captain leon Britton, meanwhile, says abraham reminds him of another England forward. ‘Someone I played with years ago, Jermain defoe, in terms of the hunger to score goals,’ Britton said.
‘Sometimes players don’t want to do that, they will look to pass the ball. he just wants to get on the end of everything.
‘Jermain has scored nearly 160 goals in the Premier league and Tammy can go on and have a great career in the Premier league.
‘hopefully he will continue to do it here and then go back to chelsea and score many goals there.’
SUPER STAT: Huddersfield have failed to score in four consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since August 2004.
SWANSEA CITY (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6.5; Naughton 6.5, Fernandez 7, Mawson 7, Olsson 6.5; Fer 7 (Ki 72min, 6), Britton 7 (Clucas 84); Narsingh 7 (Dyer 76, 6), Carroll 7.5, Ayew 7; ABRAHAM 8. Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Routledge. Scorer: Abraham 42, 48. Booked: Fer. Manager: Paul Clement 7.5 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1): Lossl 4; Smith 5, Zanka 5, Schindler 5, Malone 5 (Lowe 81); Billing 6 (Williams 60, 6) Hogg 6 (Mooy 46, 6); Kachunga 6.5, Van La Parra 6, Ince 6; Depoitre 5. Subs not used: Coleman, Sabiri, Cranie, Hadergjonaj. Booked: Schindler, Smith, Hogg, Zanka, Van la Parra. Manager: David Wagner 5. Referee: Paul Tierney 6 Attendance: 20,657.