Can Potter find the magic to boost Montero?
“I AM feeling fit and strong and I am happy to be back in Swansea. I hope now to play a part for Swansea again. This is the idea I have had in my head and I am glad to be here.
“The manager has been good with me. He seems happy that I am here so I am happy.”
The words of Jefferson Montero on his return to the Liberty Stadium this week.
The man who had no respect for reputations when in top form now has to repair his own.
The 28-year-old hasn’t pulled on a Swansea City shirt in a competitive fixture since the 1-1 with Manchester United in April 2017.
Fittingly, he lasted just seven minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
He had pulled his hamstring once again.
Two botched loan moves later - involving one bizarre sub-deal to Emelec in Ecuador – Montero is back and featured as a substitute in the behind-closed-doors 1-0 friendly win against Newport County yesterday.
It looked all over for Montero in SA1, but Graham Potter has welcomed the flier back into the fold.
“We are pleased to have Jefferson with us,” said Potter.
“I am well aware of his ability and what he can bring to the team. He is back training with us and it is now a question of building up his match fitness.”
So what will be different this time - and more importantly, what has to be different?
It starts with the player himself.He simply has to want it.
He hasn’t played much football over the past 18 months, and you’d have to think the player personally would want to prove a point.
Professional pride should be at the forefront of his mind, as well as keeping himself fit and motivated.
He’s contracted until the summer of 2020 but if the next few months don’t go to plan, he will surely be moved on. And, more importantly, more regularly.
During his first two seasons in south Wales he played almost week -in, week-out. It is no coincidence that he produced his best football when featuring more often.
Potter’s pursuit of Ken Sema – who is now at Watford – illustrates he wants to add to attacking flank options. Could Montero be the cliched “like a new signing” addition?
Not many fans would be happy if that were to be the case as players are still needed – and quickly – but a fit-and-firing Montero is an asset, even if we haven’t seen it in almost two years.
The manager likes players who express themselves and Potter holds values more in line with Swansea’s football philosophy of seasons gone by.
If that returns, Montero could thrive in such an environment.