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Josh Ginnelly and Sam Parker update as pundit hits Swansea City nail on head

-Credit: (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
-Credit: (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)


Luke Williams is hoping to welcome Sam Parker back into the first-team fold soon and says fellow wideman Josh Ginnelly is also making promising progress on his bid to return from injury.

Parker, who signed a new deal at the club at the start of the season, made his first-team breakthrough last season, making his debut against Coventry City in December 2023.

However, he saw his campaign ended by a hamstring injury, and he is yet to feature for the club this term, with his road to recovery recently hampered by illness.

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Now back in the building, the highly-rated 18-year-old is seemingly edging closer to first-team contention, although Williams insists he won't be taking an risks over his fitness.

"We have to be very careful with Sam because he picked up an injury and was out for a long time," Williams said recently. "He came back and unfortunately, and this can happen, the body's out of condition. It's about how you can put it into condition.

"We have to push. If you don't push enough, you leave the player vulnerable. Push too much, it's very, very difficult.

"You can be so unfortunate. Like Jisung, he makes a tackle and the guy lands on him. It doesn't matter how conditioned you are, if someone lands on you the wrong way.

"Sam's been a bit unfortunate, but we certainly don't need to take an unnecessary risk with him. So we have to get him back correctly."

Having Parker back in contention would be a big boost to Williams, whose side are currently suffering their worst goal drought since 1996 following Saturday's gut-wrenching defeat at home to Millwall.

An added wide option, particularly in the absence of Eom, who is like to miss at least another month, would subsequently be roundly welcomed.

Another option who would clearly boost the squad is winger Ginnelly, who hasn't featured for the club since rupturing his Achilles against Sheffield Wednesday last September.

He has since suffered a number of setbacks on his road to recovery, but now appears to finally be moving in the right direction, although Williams admits it might still be some time before he pulls on a Swans shirt again.

"He's finishing the first cycle of rehab again, and should be moving to the next stage, a bit more grass-based stuff," Williams added.

"I think soon, no. At some point? Yes.

"It would be very welcome [to have him back]. We look forward to having him back, but we just have to take it step by step."

In the meantime, Williams has to find a solution to Swansea's current problems by using the players currently at his disposal, as they bid to end a six-game winless run at Oxford United on Saturday.

The lack of depth in key areas has long been the biggest talking point around the squad, and pundit Owain Tudur Jones believes the gaps in quality are now starting to show.

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"I think the fact they lost the winger Eom Ji-sung has been a problem, he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. "I think the XI that start games and a couple in reserve, Swansea have a strong 13 or 14 players. Anything beyond that and I think the weakness is showing itself.

"I think that comes down to investment in the summer. Those attacking players who provide and score plenty of goals in the season, they're few and far between.

"The fact that Swansea have been unable to attract those sort of players, for financial reasons probably, is starting to show itself."

Swansea travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford on Saturday. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.