Thursday 10 September 2015 18:59, UK
Garry Monk believes it is far too early to predict where Swansea will finish this season - but has challenged his side to continue their promising start to the new Premier League campaign.
Monk's men capped a fine start to the season by claiming a 2-1 victory over Manchester United prior to the recent international break.
The Swans remain unbeaten and currently sit in fourth place with eight points from four matches. They resume league hostilities at newly-promoted Watford on Saturday and face a challenging run of fixtures before the next international break in October.
Swansea take on Everton, Southampton and Tottenham, but Monk says he wants his side to push on and establish themselves in top half of the table.
"These few games before the next international break is an important period for us," the Swansea manager said.
"We can try and continue what has been a good start, the choice whether it becomes a great start or we start again back at the beginning.
"We want to try and continue what we've been doing and I'm sure the players will be focused and ready to do that.
"At the moment, we are playing with some freedom and confidence and a good way of working, but it's so early in the season to be talking about positions in the league.
"You really need to get to that 10 to 15 game marker and it begins to even out, or you start to gauge what you can push for and what you are going to be fighting for."
Forwards Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew have provided every one of Swansea's seven league goals so far, but their early season success has also been based on a solid defence which has remained unaltered.
Wales captain Ashley Williams and Argentina international Federico Fernandez have struck up a formidable centre-back partnership over the past year and Monk, a former central defender himself, says it gives Swansea a terrific base to work from.
"I think Ash and Fede are one of the best partnerships in the league at this moment," Monk said.
We are playing with some freedom and confidence and a good way of working, but it's so early in the season to be talking about positions in the league.
"But Ash has got to be up there in the top three or four centre-backs in the league the way he plays, contributes in every game and leads the group.
"The bit that's most pleasing for any defender is how consistent you are, not only in terms of the amount of games played but also the level of performance.
"Ash can be really proud of that as it's hardest thing for any defender to be that consistent and, hopefully, he can play game after game and lead Swansea for a long time."
Monk also revealed that there have been no new developments over the future of out-of-favour forward Michu, who is in talks with the club over terminating his contract.
"I've left that to the chairman and club to talk to Michu and his representatives," Monk said.
"Nothing came in the window and it's an ongoing situation, and hopefully there will be a decision sooner rather than later which is best for the club and the player."
