Newcastle's Next Opponents: Everything You Need To Know About Swansea

Centre-Backs - Ashley Williams And Federico Fernandez

With an Argentine international and the Wales captain in the middle, it's easy to see how Swansea were able to keep 13 clean sheets last season. Papiss Cisse and Georginio Wijnaldum will pose them problems but the physicality of these two centre-backs sets up a very-interesting subplot. Williams is the heartbeat of the defence, and arguably the entire side. Since moving from Stockport County in 2008 when the Swans were in League One, the 30-year-old has shown why he is one of the best centre-backs in England, with moves to Arsenal and Liverpool previously mooted in the past. A tough, physical centre-back, few forwards regularly get the better of the six-footer in the air. His organisation of the defence and his crunching tackling, combined with a steady demeanour on the ball, make him the ideal leader for this Swansea team. Fernandez was unlucky to concede an own goal against Chelsea but the 6ft 3in centre-back is strong in the air and has showed in his first season in the Premier League that he isn't afraid to tough it out with opposing forwards. Described by some as a combination of style and steel, one Welsh newspaper actually went as far as to say that Fernandez was the real man of the match against Chelsea - so it's fair to say he's no slouch. It could be worth sticking a bigger forward such as Aleksandar Mitrovic against this central-defensive duo but, with Cisse already off the mark, the Newcastle midfield may want to consider trying to play the ball in behind the pairing who, while very good in terms of their positioning, are not the quickest. If the Magpies are to get the Senegalese forward into space, then Cisse must maximise his opportunities.