No change to Matos' plan as season starts with cup

[Huw Evans Picture Agency] Vitor Matos says there will be no change to his selection plans even though Swansea City's first game of the 2026-27 season is in the Carabao Cup. Swansea host fellow Championship club Birmingham City on Saturday (15:00 BST) before starting their league campaign at Stoke City the following weekend. Managers often use the early stages of the EFL Cup to give squad players game time, but Matos looks set to field something close to his strongest available side. "We don't separate competitions," said the Swansea head coach. "We work for the next game and that's what we're going to do on this game. "It's our first game of the season so for us it's a game we want to compete in. That's what we need." Swansea are without midfielder Goncalo Franco because of the ankle injury he suffered last month, while new recruit Ross Stewart is not being considered having missed out on pre-season. Zan Vipotnik is expected to play some part as he builds fitness following a quad injury, while captain Ben Cabango and summer signing Stephen Welsh are available after missing last weekend's Leganes friendly through illness. Welsh, Moussa Yeo, Elijah Just (pictured above), Joseph Opoku and Tiago Parente are in contention to make competitive debuts for Swansea against a Birmingham side who drew their final pre-season friendly with a youthful Barcelona side last week. The Blues, managed by former Swansea assistant boss Chris Davies, finished 10th in the second tier last season, ahead of the Swans on goal difference. "Birmingham are a really good team, had really good results in pre-season if we look to the games they played against really good oppositions," Matos said. "They are really aggressive, probably one of the most aggressive teams I've seen in recent times in terms of pressing, direct as well, set-piece is quite important, so it will be a really good challenge."