Southampton handed boost ahead of Swansea City opener
By Chris Hughes
Southampton’s opening game of the season has been made a little easier, as Swansea striker Fernando Llorente will miss the encounter.
The Swans’ boss Paul Clement has confirmed the news, meaning the Spanish forward will miss the first couple of game-weeks as a result.
Last season Llorente led the Welsh side in scoring with 15 goals, meaning his presence will be thoroughly missed when his side travel to St. Mary’s on the 12th August.
It’s been confirmed that the injury is a broken arm sustained whilst on holiday, although it shouldn’t set the experienced striker back beyond the end of the month.
The 32-year-old’s ability in the air made him the perfect striker ahead of the highly-rated Gylfi Sigurdsson, who’s respective future with the Welsh side remains unclear going into the last month of the transfer window.
"“I think it is unlikely he will be involved in the first couple of games, but his return will not be long after that. It was always going to be touch and go for the start of the season. – Paul Clement"
At six-foot-four Llorente could’ve caused some serious issues for the likes of Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens, with Virgil van Dijk’s own future and fitness unclear ahead of the curtain-raiser.
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The Dutch defender missed Southampton’s pre-season camp in France after being told to train alone, and if he misses the friendlies against Augsburg and Sevilla he’ll lack match fitness ahead of the game against the Swans.
With Llorente out it’s unclear how Paul Clement will set up his Swansea team to face the Saints, with Gylfi Sigurdsson often taking on the ‘false 9′ role in the absence of any striker last season.
However Jordan Ayew and the newly-arriving Tammy Abraham could also feature instead, with the latter packing some natural pace that could cause trouble for the Southampton defence.
All the remains clear is that the Saints’ chances of victory are greatly strengthened by his absence, as his physical presence was a game-changer for Swansea last season.