Swansea City won widespread praise for their performance in beating

Manchester United three weeks ago, but their unbeaten start ended at

Watford last weekend as their soft centre was exposed.

Despite earning a 2-2 draw at champions Chelsea on the opening day of

the Premier League season, Garry Monk’s side have looked more

comfortable at home than away so far, and so perhaps will be glad to get

back to familiar surroundings against Everton on Saturday.

Midfield creators Jonjo Shelvey and Gylfi Sigurdsson have thrived

more when given room to breathe, with both players floundering last

weekend as Watford’s physical approach proved too much to handle.

Left exposed, midfield anchor Jack Cork was condemned to an afternoon

of frustration, undermining his efforts to maintain the form that has

pushed him into contention for an England call-up.

“It is up to the England manager who he selects, but all I can say is that Jack has been fantastic for us,” manager Monk said.

Another player who has been fantastic for Swansea so far is powerful

striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored in each of his side’s first four

league games before drawing a blank at Watford.

The priority for Cork and Gomis is to help Swansea recapture that

early-season form against Everton. As far as their team-mate Federico

Fernandez is concerned, playing at a higher tempo is crucial.

“Last weekend was disappointing,” said the Argentinian centre-back.

“We have worked hard in training to make sure we put in a better

performance on Saturday.

“The focus is on Everton and we are expecting a really tough game

against them. I also expect a higher level of performance from ourselves

with much more intensity.”

A match against Everton ought to provide something closer to a pure football contest.

The visitors’ manager, Roberto Martinez, made his coaching reputation

at Swansea, introducing the attractive passing style that remains in

place at the Liberty Stadium, and he has taken those principles to

Goodison Park.

In theory, this is a game that should suit Monk’s side more than the

scrap they faced at Watford, but only in theory, for Everton arrive on

the back of a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Chelsea.

Martinez’s side almost qualified for the Champions League the season

before last and their victory over the title-holders suggests they may

trouble the European places again this time around.

Steven Naismith came on as an early substitute to score a hat-trick

against Chelsea, but is not guaranteed a starting place at the Liberty

Stadium.

Midfielder Mo Besic is recovering well from the hamstring problem

that forced him to make way for Naismith last Saturday and could keep

his starting place.

Right-back Seamus Coleman, who suffered a hamstring problem in the same match, is also close to fitness and could play.

Utility player Bryan Oviedo, who has covered for long-term ankle

injury victim Leighton Baines at left-back this season, is still

recovering from a knee problem, so it is likely that Brendan Galloway

will keep his place.

Martinez knows his Swansea counterpart Monk well. They first met as

team-mates in South Wales and when Martinez became the club’s manager,

Monk was his captain.

The Everton manager says Monk deserves recognition for keeping

Swansea in the Premier League after taking charge in February 2014, then

leading them to eighth place last season — their highest finish since

1982.

“I am a big admirer of what Garry Monk has done at Swansea,” Martinez said. 

“In the time he has been in charge, I don’t see another manager who has had as big an influence at a club.”