Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos has confirmed that new signing Ross Stewart will not make his debut against Birmingham City in Saturday's Carabao Cup first-round clash at the Swansea.com Stadium. The 30-year-old striker, who joined the Swans as a free agent after his Southampton exit, has missed the entirety of pre-season and is not yet ready for competitive action.
Stewart's arrival and injury history
Stewart penned a three-year contract with the Welsh club after Southampton failed to exercise a contract option, allowing him to depart St Mary's. Despite a chequered injury past, the Scottish forward impressed last season, netting 11 goals in 33 appearances for the Saints. His form had convinced Southampton to consider keeping him, but their administrative oversight opened the door for Swansea to secure his services.
Matos addressed Stewart's situation directly during his pre-match press conference: "He will not be involved in this game. He has missed all pre-season so he will need to step by step get him into the team. In the future, for sure, against Birmingham of course not."
Vipotnik's fitness and striking options
Swansea's attacking arsenal also includes last season's Championship Golden Boot winner Zan Vipotnik, who scored 23 goals, and £7m signing Adam Idah. However, Vipotnik is not fully fit either, having missed 10-12 days of pre-season due to injury. He managed just 20 minutes in the final friendly and will be eased back into action.
Matos confirmed Vipotnik's availability for the Birmingham match: "Vipotnik is available for the game, yes. It is only Franco (injured)." The manager added, "The only thing I can add is that he missed an important part of pre-season, around 10-12 days, on the last friendly he played 20 minutes so he's getting back again."
Midfield blow and team news
In addition to Stewart's absence, Swansea will be without key midfielder Goncalo Franco, who is sidelined through injury. This leaves Matos with a depleted squad for the cup tie, though he retains confidence in his remaining options.
The match against Birmingham City marks the start of Swansea's League Cup campaign, and Matos will be eager to progress without risking his new signings prematurely. Stewart's debut is now expected to come in the coming weeks as he builds up his fitness levels.
Birmingham City's perspective
For Birmingham City, the news offers a slight reprieve as they prepare to face a Swansea side missing one of their most anticipated additions. The Blues will look to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities while Swansea's attacking lineup remains unsettled.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, with both clubs aiming to advance in the Carabao Cup. Swansea's fans will be hoping that Stewart's eventual debut lives up to the billing, but for now, patience is the watchword.
