Eight Swansea City players with a point to prove as Luke Williams lays down gauntlet to star

Swansea City are gearing up for what is looking like a busy summer ahead of the new season.

Luke Williams has already had many of the players back at Fairwood for a couple of weeks of pre-preseason tests, which suggests he's super serious about ensuring his side hit the ground running next season.

Williams will clearly be hoping the club can strengthen his squad in this transfer window, but there are a number of players within this existing squad that perhaps might feel they have something to prove over the coming campaign.

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Jerry Yates

There are several players Swansea might well listen to offers for this summer, and Yates could well be one of them. The striker was admittedly always going to find it tricky to fill the Joel Piroe-shaped hole that opened up last season, and despite netting nine goals in all competitions, he hasn't quite managed to fully win over the critics. Williams has made no secret of the fact that he's looking for more firepower in this window. If Yates does manage to get another chance to shine up front next term, he needs to take it.

Mykola Kuharevich

A goal at Millwall aside, fans have seen precious little of the Ukrainian so far. Three managers have come through the door since his arrival, and none have been convinced. At 22, there's an argument that he could well have been signed as a potentially one for the future. But having carried a transfer fee of around £2m, there was always going to be some level of expectation for him to have a more immediate impact. As with Yates, there's a chance he could well be moved on this summer. Again, if he's still here, he will need to show some signs of improvement.

Nathan Tjoe-A-On

A signing that has similarly not quite hit the heights many had hoped. Michael Duff spent the early part of his reign crying out for a left-back. When the Indonesia international arrived for a fee believed to be around £300,000, many might have reasonably hoped that he would be part of the answer. However, he seemingly hasn't quite got up to speed with the demands of Championship football. He left for Herenveen on loan in January, in a move the Swans hoped would "continue his development". However, he returns having played just 15 minutes of football in the Eredivisie. If he's to have any future with the Swans, he has to show more.

Kristian Pedersen

Another signing brought in to bolster Swansea's full-back options. Another signing that hasn't really worked out so far. Pedersen's Swansea career has been held back by a combination of poor form and injuries, and he will have to work hard if he's to convince Williams that he has a future at the club. Even his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in the second half of last season offered little joy in terms of minutes. Given his contract is up next summer, there's some added incentive for him to perform. Whether he gets a chance to prove himself, however, remains to be seen.

Andy Fisher

The club haven't fully given up hope of bringing Carl Rushworth back for another season. But if we're to take Williams' comments at face value then it seems unlikely that we'll see the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee in a Swans shirt again. That means Fisher, a keeper that's had his critics in the past, will likely be number one. After spending last season waiting in the wings, he will need to prove he can handle the spotlight of being the main man, especially given the likelihood of further goalkeeping reinforcements this summer.

Ollie Cooper

Having previously shown some real promise, the midfielder by his own admission seemingly lost his way a little last term. Williams himself said the Welshman "seemed a bit flat" and was "lacking a spark and his energy" last term. However, he appeared to notice a real turnaround towards the end of the campaign. "He's more assertive and has a bit more self-belief," he said. "That's really something exciting when he's like that". It wasn't that long ago Cooper was talked about as a potentially attractive option for Wales. If he's to be part of that conversation again, he'll need to continue that momentum.

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Harry Darling

Perhaps feels harsh to include him on this list given he's clearly an important member of this team already. But with his contract up this time next season, there's some incentive to keep impressing. See also the likes of Ben Cabango and Azeem Abdulai. "I actually think it's healthier for us with some of the players for us to say to them 'if you want to show up well then we'll sit down and negotiate a new contract," Williams told WalesOnline when asked about those out of contract next summer. "But it's been a mediocre season at best. It has to be 'the club are trying to step up, and I want to be part of it. I need to play well'. Otherwise it's just a mediocre season and it's just 'well done lads, here's another contract'. I'm not sure about that."

Josh Ginnelly

The winger must be absolutely chomping at the bit to get out there next season, having seen his start in south Wales wrecked by injury. “He will be continuing through the summer now to be ready for a pre-season and then he can show us what he is all about," Williams said. "I have not seen him yet so I am excited. He has explosive power and athleticism so that’s exciting. Let’s see how he recovers and then he can show us in pre-season.”