Swansea City Boss Considers Team Changes

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup is considering plenty of options as he decides what starting 11 to field at Newcastle United on Saturday.

With Ki Sung-yeung confirmed as being absent for the game at St James' Park due to a hamstring injury, Laudrup is considering what changes to make in midfield and attack.

Kemy Agustien, Nathan Dyer, Danny Graham, Itay Shechter and Luke Moore will all be hoping for a start in place of the talented South Korean.

All four of those players - apart from Danny Graham, came on as substitutes during the 1-1 draw at Southampton last Saturday and they each have a chance of starting the game against the Magpies.

Laudrup hasn't ruled out Dyer starting along with the two other wingers - Wayne Routledge and Pablo Hernandez, while Kemy Agustien offers more a solid and reliable option in the centre of midfield.

Also, Michu could drop back into his previous attacking midfield role, allowing one of three strikers - possibly Itay Shechter - a start.

In defence, Chico Flores hopes to prove his fitness this week to be able to start after missing the last two games.

Laudrup will probably have to consider the most options he's ever had to ponder when deciding what starting eleven to name in the Premier League this season. The Swansea City boss talked through the possibilities with the Evening Post:

'I have some things to think about,'

'We know Ki is not going to play so we have to decide what to do with the team.

'Do we just put one in instead of him or do we change things round in midfield and up front?

'Kemy is a midfielder so obviously he is one of the possibilities for us, but I have to think about more things.

Laudrup also believes that sometimes the best form of defence is to attack, by adding another striker to the team, rather than a defensive midfielder, he added:

'In the second half at Southampton, we were under pressure even when we had three midfielders on the pitch.

'That's why I wanted to put another forward on — I was going to do it even before they scored.

'Sometimes people will say that if you are under pressure, you should put in more defensive players, but I think the other way round.

'I think if you are under pressure you can put another striker on to change the balance. You can defend by trying to attack.'

Laudrup is also considering starting Danny Graham or Itay Shechter:

'Danny is a possibility,'

'Also I have tried to give a chance to Itay in the last couple of games and I think he has done well.

'He came on against Chelsea and he did well again when he came on against Southampton.

'I think he has really adapted so I think he is a possibility for us.

'But I don't want to say this one or that one will start at the moment. I am looking at two or three possibilities and then we need at least a couple of alternatives to change things during the game as well.'

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