Andre Ayew has more to contribute to Swansea City’s campaign as he gets up to speed in the Championship, according to manager Steve Cooper.
Ayew is set to be part of a Swansea line-up aiming to turn around downturn in home form on Tuesday night when the Swans host Brentford at the Liberty Stadium.
The Ghana striker – who scored in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley – is becoming stronger as his fitness improves, says Cooper, following Ayew’s delayed start to the season.
“You forget with Andre, a little bit, that he came in late, and even though we put him straight into the team he had to get up to speed with his fitness,” said Cooper.
“He’s said himself, he’s starting to feel a lot stronger. I think that’s showing, not just his goals but in his performances. I thought he was a real threat in the last game, and worthy at least of his goal.”
Ayew’s scrambled effort at Oakwell was his third goal in successive matches, giving him five in total for the season since he returned to the club from a year’s loan at Turkish club Fenerbahce.
“It’s a good return in the last three games,” Cooper added, but the manager wants a far more sustained team performance this evening against the Bees. The Swans have lost two and drawn one of their last three home games, having previously won five matches in a row at the Liberty Stadium.
“I am looking for a whole performance, which is what you’re always aiming for.
“We’ve only done it for periods of games rather than a duration. Against Reading, I thought we were excellent for spells and against Stoke.
“It’s wishful thinking from any manager but I do feel like we’re due it and feel this is a good opportunity to do it.
Cooper is hopeful defender Joe Rodon will recover in time after he was forced off during the draw with Barnsley with an ankle injury.
If Rodon does not recover in time then Cooper will turn to either Ben Wilmot or Ben Cabango to fill the void.
Winger Aldo Kalulu is still a fortnight away from a return with an ankle injury of his own.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank is hoping for news regarding striker Nikos Karelis.
Karelis was carried off on a stretcher with an injury to his right knee as he made his debut in the win over Millwall.
Karelis will be assessed but Frank confirmed he would not make the trip to Swansea. Uros Racic, Mads Bech Sorensen and Sergi Canos are long-term absentees.