Saturday 14 April 2018 13:46, UK
Carlos Carvalhal has welcomed Jordan Ayew back to Swansea's survival battle by calling him "one of the best attackers" in the Premier League.
Ayew returns for Swansea's crunch home game with Everton on Saturday having served a three-match ban after being sent off at Huddersfield last month.
Swansea have scored only once in his absence, with Carvalhal's side currently in 15th place and four points above the relegation zone.
"To me, Jordan is one of the best attackers of the Premier League and a fantastic addition for us," the Swansea manager said.
"We are very happy when we receive a player like Jordan. He makes a big impact in our team and we expect him to do that on Saturday."
Ayew is the only Swansea player to reach double figures this season, six of his 10 goals coming since Carvalhal was appointed at the end of December, and Swansea have never lost a game in which the 26-year-old has scored.
Everton have lost just one of their last four Premier League fixtures and drew 0-0 with Liverpool last time out.
Wayne Rooney appeared to be annoyed after being taken off in the derby with less than an hour gone, but manager Sam Allardyce says he has "no problem" with the former England striker.
"We're all right, no problem. It's the role he wants to play. Our tactical change was for the benefit of the team," he said.
Aside from Ayew's return, Swans midfielder Sam Clucas and defender Mike van der Hoorn remain doubtful.
Bayern Munich loanee Renato Sanches, who has not played since an FA Cup tie at Notts County at the end of January because of a hamstring injury, continues to do his final recovery work in Germany.
Idrissa Gana Gueye is in line to start for Everton after showing no ill effects following his substitute appearance in the Merseyside derby.
Defender Phil Jagielka suffered a reaction following last weekend's goalless draw but should be fit. Gylfi Sigurdsson (knee), Mason Holgate (ankle), Eliaquim Mangala (knee) and James McCarthy (broken leg) all remain sidelined.
The Swans last won five consecutive top-flight home games in October 1981, when they won their first five matches in the 1981-82 season.
Everton are looking to win back-to-back Premier League away games for the first time since September 2016.
Swansea have only lost one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Everton (W2 D4), though it was in the reverse fixture this season (1-3).
After scoring twice and assisting another in his first two Premier League games for Everton, Theo Walcott has failed to score and provided just one assist in his last eight.
Carlos Carvalhal has won seven of his nine home matches as Swansea boss in all competitions (L2) - both of those two defeats were against Spurs.
Wayne Rooney has had a hand in nine goals in his last eight Premier League games against Swansea (4 goals, 5 assists), including his last goal in the competition to date in Everton's 3-1 win in December.
It's like the third day of a golf Open, it's the moving weekend! Things could really get sorted out.
Are Swansea, Palace and Huddersfield going to have easier games before the end of the season? I don't think so. These are probably their marked games where they have to get three points. It's a cup final for Swansea and I think they will edge it.
Regarding Rooney last weekend, I don't know anybody who is happy coming off. You would rather see him do what he did than being happy as Larry or walking straight into the dressing room. But will he be in the side this weekend? Not sure. Watch this space.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
