Sigurdsson: On loan from Hoffenheim

Share this article:

Rodgers delight at Sig reunion

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his delight at the opportunity to work with central midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson again.

Rodgers first witnessed the Icelandic international’s attacking talents when they were both plying their respective trades at Reading.

Sigurdsson has since joined the Swans in a loan deal from German outfit Hoffenheim.

It was the 22-year-old who equalised for Swansea after West Brom’s Marc-Antoine put the hosts in front, before supplying the assist for Danny Graham’s winning strike.

Rodgers said: “I put him in the team when I was manager at Reading so I know everything about him.

“I felt we needed an offensive midfielder for the second half of the season and he fits the bill perfectly for that.

“He did not need persuading to come here. He knows how I work and when I went into Reading he was a wonderful young talent.

“If I see that talent, I will put them in the team - and he went on that season and scored 20 odd goals.

“He is one I’ve always kept in contact with and I just felt this would be a terrific club and he has fitted in perfectly.”

Rodgers added: “It has been difficult for him at Hoffenheim because he’s had three different managers there.

“He is a very clever guy, loves British football and knows how I work.”

Rodgers is pleased to see his team accumulating points on the road, with the win at West Brom following a victory at Aston Villa last month.

He said: “We could have scored four or five. We are a little club fighting to earn respect at this level through our game.

“It is not our mentality and philosophy to sit back. There is an inherent belief in our game.

“We know we needed to improve our away record and we’ve had a couple of good results.”

In contrast, Albion continue to falter at home, having won only two games at the Hawthorns this season.