Opinion: Andre Ayew excites in Bafetimbi Gomis absence as Swansea City, Ghanaian could be new club hero

BY CHRIS WATHAN

While much of the talk was about a player not at the City Ground, Andre Ayew at least offered a reminder why Swansea City should be excited rather than anxious in this last week of pre-season.

Bafetimbi Gomis was said not to have travelled to take on Nottingham Forest because of a slight hamstring problem.

Yet regardless of the integrity of the injury, his absence only added fuel to the flames of speculation over his future after a week in the headlines over interest from overseas.

Gomis missing

Swans boss Garry Monk was at pains to point out after Friday's draw with Reading that, while there had been an enquiry from cash-rich Dubai club Al Ahli, Gomis was focused on the first game of the new season at Chelsea in a fortnight and that the release clause in his contract protected the club more than it has been suggested.

Nevertheless, perhaps on the back of plenty of summers where star players and even managers have inevitably been lured away, the tongues of the Swans supporters were still wagging before the second test against second-tier opposition inside 24 hours.

By full-time – and in a sure sign that a return to weekly football is now due – most conversations were instead about what they had seen from their side in this latest warm-up to the new campaign.

More: Garry Monk confirms Swansea City received contact over possible Bafetimbi Gomis transfer

More specifically, plenty were chatting about the man who could be a new hero at the Liberty as Ayew got up and running in his new colours with a well-taken effort just before the hour mark.

Frustratingly, if there is such a thing in pre-season friendlies, Robert Tesche ensured a second 1-1 draw against a Championship challenger in as many days nine minutes later.

True, Monk will have been a little upset that Swansea were sloppy so soon after they opened to concede as Jamie Ward crossed and the German midfielder cushioned a well-placed header past the otherwise untroubled Lukasz Fabianski.

But more important would have been some of the impressive play as his men dominated and controlled in large periods.

Ayew eagerness

Ayew was heavily involved, as would have been Monk's hope after capturing him on a free from French football.

His eagerness to work was a real plus point, suggesting he is already a good fit for the mentality needed in this team regardless of his pedigree as a player in two World Cups and with Champions League experience.

And there was plenty of hunger about him as he raced across Matt Mills to win the header to Kyle Naughton's floated pass, taking the ball out of the air with lovely control, twisting and turning inside the box and firing past former Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries.

Drifting in off the wing coupled with the form of Jefferson Montero in Friday's game with Reading, it whets the appetite at what Swansea could do as an attacking force.

Not to be outdone, Wayne Routledge was constantly on the ball with the better of marker Danny Fox even if he was not quite able to deliver a final ball.

Eder, starting with Gomis missing, didn't do enough to get on the end of some as he looked short of sharpness and strength at this stage of his bedding-in period.

It underlined why Gomis will be needed, even if Al Ahli's flirting might prompt others to take a look at the Frenchman.

Yet the 29-year-old would do well to have a look at some of the midfield play that could serve him. Ki Sung-Yueng looked particularly sharp, spraying passes and switching play as and when, unfortunate not to get a goal or two himself with one rasping shot and one drive towards a low header that he was close to connecting with.

More cause for excitement than anxiety

Matty Grimes again impressed, the England Under 20 midfielder bright and brave with some of his play and displaying one or two lovely pieces of footwork.

Skipper Ashley Williams simply picked up where he left off to ensure, Tesche's goal aside, there was no Forest threat to really worry about.

A tougher test will come in the shape of Spanish side Deportivo next weekend, a game where Monk is likely to inch towards his starting side for Sramford Bridge. Swansea say Gomis will be fit and perhaps the worried chatter will stop. As hinted at here, and with Ayew ready to go, there is more reason to be excited than anxious.

More: The Reading v Swansea City debrief

TEAMS -

Forest: De Vries; Lichaj, Mills, Hobbs, Fox, Mancienne, Ward, Lansbury, Tesche, Antonio, Maynard.

Subs: Evtimov, Riera, Wilson, Walker, Taylor, Paterson, McLaughlin, Blackstock, Vaughan, C Burke

Swansea: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams(Capt), Taylor; Cork, Ki; Ayew, Grimes, Routledge; Eder.

Subs: Vickers(gk), Sheehan, Hanley, Barrow.

SCORERS -

Forest: Tesche 68

Swansea: Ayew 59

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancs)

Attendance: 4,285

Andre Ayew scored his first Swansea City goal as the Welsh club were held to a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Ghana international - signed from Marseille last month - found the target 14 minutes into the second half, before Robert Tesche restored parity.

Striker Bafetimbi Gomis sat out the fixture with a reported hamstring injury amid mounting speculation linking him with a move to Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates.

Former Swansea goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was on hand to keep out good chances for both Kyle Naughton and Ayew in a first half that ended goalless, while Jamie Ward drew a save from Lukasz Fabianski with a low drive at the other end.

It was the visitors who took the lead just short of the hour mark, though - Ayew firing home from close range after receiving the ball from Naughton.

That lead lasted just nine minutes as an off-balance Fabianski failed to keep out a Tesche header.

Eder had the ball in the back of the net with a volley in the 73rd minute but the effort was chalked off for handball.

The Portuguese then tested De Vries with a dipping effort four minutes from time and Forest held on for a hard-earned draw.