Here’s your round-up of the latest news from Swansea City for Friday 1st December.

“Ultra-professional” Bolasie hopes to make an impact on the first team

Swansea City manager Michael Duff has praised the impact of “ultra-professional” Yannick Bolasie and admits he will soon have to redouble his efforts to bring the veteran up to scratch.

“It’s a six-hour journey to Leeds and you turn around and he’s sitting on the steps of the bus, holding his phone like it’s a stopwatch. He is extremely professional. Many players in the league can play. But there is a reason you need to move to the next level: the level of professionalism. He’s dressed, he’s in the pool in the morning, stretching and doing all these things.

“He has a bright personality and plays like he does with a big smile. He simply loves football. He’s here because he loves football. He’s not here for the money. He earned his money.

“But the fact that he still does these things. Help. Players see this and say: “He was sold for £30 million, he’s 33 years old and he’s still doing it.” Yes, because it is correct.

“You can’t just come to work, laugh, play and say, ‘It’s a great life.’ It’s a hard life and hard work. People don’t see that. People think it’s easy because everyone wants to be a football player.

Speaking after Bolas’ debut on the bench in Wednesday’s defeat to Leeds United, Duff said the winger would likely be limited to a cameo role due to a lack of game time. However, the Swans manager admits the 34-year-old will certainly take on a more prominent role in the coming weeks.

“He came to play,” Duff added. “We want him to play because we believe he is a good player. So it’s about finding the balance between what’s right. “We can’t do a six-week pre-season with him because it wouldn’t make sense.”

“Then we might have to put it in the microwave. We might have to catch up to him first, but the other day he had 20 minutes and I think he did well. So you have to find a balance so as not to break it, but rather to make the most of it. It is made”.

Duff reveals friends’ conversations

Michael Duff has revealed he spoke to former referee Kevin Friend of Professional Game Match Officials Limited before his team’s defeat at Elland Road.

It comes after Duff’s team found itself on the wrong end of several controversial decisions in recent weeks, decisions that Duff believes have cost his team dearly.

“I don’t think he was at the game by accident because he wanted to see me,” Duff said ahead of Saturday’s game against Huddersfield Town.

“He understands the frustration. We got two red cards in two games for four yellow cards and three of them weren’t yellow. We had no penalties in the 2-0 against Hull.

“It’s good that they want to open the lines of communication and admit…that they’re not just burying their heads in the sand.”

Levien shows his hand to Fletcher

Swansea City co-owner Jason Levien expects Christian Fletcher to return to DC United when his loan spell in South Wales expires.

The American striker joined Swansea in the summer but was limited to a series of high-profile performances at under-21 level. Despite recently training with the first team, he has yet to break through at senior level and Levien is now expected to return to the United States when his loan expires in January.

He’s yet to make the first-team squad but has really caught the eye in the academy, with some suggesting he could break into Michael Duff’s squad.

Jason Levin told MLSfutbol.com: “I think it’s fantastic that Christian is having the success and experience that he has. We want him to play first-team football to gain that experience. So now we hope he returns with DC United.

“We will talk to him and the two clubs about this, to find out the best path for his development. But I think with the new coach in D.C. and the new leadership in football operations, I think it’s a great opportunity for Christian.”

Fletcher maintains his red-hot form

Meanwhile, Fletcher continued his excellent form for Swansea Under-21s with a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Colchester United at Landore on Friday afternoon.

The American scored twice shortly after Charlie Vevers had put the hosts ahead and scored again just before the hour mark. It is the 18-year-old’s second hat-trick in as many games and takes his total to 16 goals.

Nathanael Ogbeta also appeared off the bench midway through the second half before Colchester scored through Caan Bennett.