Swansea City and Cardiff City face off in the first game back after the international break.
Both have endured underwhelming seasons to say the least, with the Bluebirds ensconced in a relegation battle and Swansea nose-diving after a positive start to the campaign.
The upheaval the two sides have gone through since they last met is hammered home by the fact 18 who were named in the matchday squads for the 4-0 game at Cardiff City Stadium have now moved on - whether that be on loan, permanently or they've headed back to their parent clubs.
It's some turnaround. Let's see where they are now.
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Cardiff City
Alex Smithies
Smithies joined the club while City were in the Premier League and was a solid shot-stopper in the Championship, having previously been in the shadow of Neil Etheridge.
He would move on from the club at the end of last season, and is currently with Leicester City, whom he joined in August on a free transfer. He is still yet to make his debut for the Foxes.
Cody Drameh
Drameh enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with the Bluebirds, with the wing-back becoming a fan favourite during his short stint at the club.
Many within Cardiff would’ve loved to have seen him return to the capital, but he remained with parent club Leeds United to start the season.
The 21-year-old only appeared once in the Premier League this season and is now on loan at play-off hopefuls Luton Town after joining Rob Edwards’ side in the January window.
Perry Ng
Ng is the first player on this list who remains with the Bluebirds, and he has played a key role this campaign in Cardiff’s fight for survival.
The versatile defender has put in some brilliant performances and scored a superb free-kick against Birmingham City a few weeks ago.
New boss Sabri Lamouchi has been full of praise for his performances recently as well.
Aden Flint
Fondly remembered by many at Cardiff City Stadium for scoring the winner in the South Wales derby in January 2021 under Mick McCarthy.
Flint would leave the capital upon the expiry of his deal last summer, eventually joining Stoke City on a free transfer.
It hasn’t worked out for the towering centre-back, and he re-joined Sheffield Wednesday on a loan deal until the end of the season in January.
Mark McGuinness
McGuinness enjoyed a solid, if not spectacular debut campaign with the Bluebirds last season.
It subsequently came as a bit of a surprise when he was shipped out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in August. He would be recalled by the club in January, after putting in several impressive displays at Hillsborough.
Since joining back up with City, he has played every minute of league action and provided much-needed quality to the backline.
Joel Bagan
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, having graduated from the club’s academy.
Bagan would go on to appear in 26 matches for the Bluebirds and played a key role in keeping the club afloat last season.
His fortunes haven’t been the same this term though, with all three of City’s managers this season not favouring the youngster.
Tommy Doyle
It was clear for all that Doyle was a player with masses of potential and technical ability and it was always obvious that he would be destined for greater things.
He went on to join Sheffield United in the summer and has played an integral part in the Blades’ promotion bid since joining on loan from Manchester City.
Doyle would’ve been in line to start at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals had United not been drawn against his parent club.
Ryan Wintle
Wintle is another who is still at the club and has played a key role under Lamouchi.
City’s number six has often been captain on matchday, having taken on the armband on several occasions in place of Joe Ralls.
Joe Ralls
Cardiff City’s longest serving player, who has been at the club for more than 12 years having joined in 2011.
Ralls has had limited playing time of late under the new boss but is still the club captain and signed a new deal last summer until 2024.
Jordan Hugill
A shrewd loan signing last season, Hugill would go on to be a relative success in south Wales during his short stint at the club.
He left upon the expiry of his loan deal and returned to parent club Norwich but would be shipped out to Rotherham on a permanent transfer in January.
Hugill has scored twice in 10 appearances since moving to the Millers.
Mark Harris
Another academy product, Harris played an important role in the Bluebirds’ survival fight, making 34 league appearances last season.
The 24-year-old was rewarded with a call up with Wales to go to the World Cup in the winter but didn’t manage to get on the pitch out in Qatar.
Harris is still at Cardiff City Stadium, but playing time has been tough to find as of late.
USED SUBS
Uche Ikpeazu
Ikpeazu was a much-loved cult figure in south Wales, who won over Bluebirds fans with his infectious smile and work ethic.
The forward went on to score on three occasions during his loan spell, and would go on to join Turkish league side Konyaspor.
He has appeared 15 times this season, although he is still yet to register a goal during his time in Turkey.
Rubin Colwill
Colwill is a player who many within the club have tipped for great things, but he has struggled over the last year.
He was a part of the 26-man squad for Wales at the World Cup but has since had to drop back down to the under-21 set-up after a challenging 2022/23 campaign.
The 20-year-old has been limited to just 561 minutes in all competitions this season.
Isaak Davies
Another academy product who has struggled with injuries as of late, Davies made his debut for the club in October 2021.
Burnley had a strong interest in the forward over the past summer, but the move didn’t materialise, and he has struggled to shake off injury problems since.
Only made eight appearances this season so far, playing 269 minutes in total.
UNUSED SUBS
Dillon Phillips (now on loan with KV Oostende), Will Vaulks (now with Sheffield Wednesday), Curtis Nelson (now with Blackpool), Alfie Doughty (back at Stoke City but on loan at Luton).
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Swansea City
Andy Fisher
The 25-year-old joined the Swans in January 2022, having previously worked with manager Russell Martin at MK Dons.
He’s had to fill in for the injured Steven Benda, and has had his fair share of struggles this season – but did put in a solid performance over Bristol City last weekend.
Joel Latibeaudiere
Latibeaudiere joined the club in 2020 and has been an ever-present in defence ever since.
Played 27 times so far this season and made his international debut for Jamaica last summer.
Set to be out of contract at the end of this term, so is one of the players fighting for his future at the Swans.
Kyle Naughton
One of the longest-serving players currently at the club, having played three seasons in the Premier League for the Swans.
Naughton extended his contract with the club in the summer and has shown little sign of slowing up, having appeared 23 times this campaign.
Ben Cabango
One of the scorers in the 4-0 victory, Cabango is another successful academy product who has continued to improve in a Swans shirt.
To date, he has made more than 100 appearances in the Championship, despite being just 22 years old.
He was another who had been named in the 26-man squad under Robert Page for Wales at the World Cup. He’s earned five caps for Wales in total.
Cyrus Christie
Joined the club on loan and put in a solid shift during his time in south Wales last season.
The full-back has openly spoken about the owners’ reluctance not to re-sign him in SA1, despite his own eagerness to make his loan deal a permanent one.
Eventually signed for Hull City and had been having a stellar campaign, but now potentially out for the rest of the season due to a knee operation.
Hannes Wolf
The Austrian was well loved by Swansea fans, having written his name into the history books after scoring in the most recent South Wales derby.
Wolf also claimed an assist in the 4-0 victory, setting up Michael Obafemi for his second goal in the 82nd minute.
Now back with Borussia Monchengladbach and has made 13 appearances in the Bundesliga so far.
Flynn Downes
Downes has arguably had the biggest rise of any player on this list, having moved to West Ham in the summer for a fee potentially rising to £14million.
The midfielder has struggled to find his feet in London but given his side’s recent struggles you’d assume he will be afforded adequate opportunities to impress.
Matt Grimes
Another fine club servant, Grimes has played an integral role as captain since being handed a starting role by Graham Potter in 2018.
The club captain has claimed five South Wales derby victories during his time with the Swans and has made more than 200 appearances to date.
Joel Piroe
Piroe played a key role in the 4-0 victory, dropping deep on several occasions to free up space for others to exploit.
Subject to interest from top-flight clubs in the summer, such as Leicester City, but a move never materialised.
A brilliant player on his day, Swansea are a much better side when Piroe is at his devastating best.
Jamie Paterson
Had a great 2021/22 under Martin, with 18 goal contributions in 38 matches – but has struggled to replicate that haul this season.
Coventry City were heavily linked back in January, but nothing came of the interest and the forward has now returned to the fold under Martin after a difficult spell in the wilderness.
Michael Obafemi
Brilliant at his best, and without a doubt the star of the show in the 4-0 derby win, netting twice at Cardiff City Stadium.
Attitude issues left a sour taste in the mouth of Swans fans, as Obafemi forced a move away to link up with Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
He has scored twice in six games since his loan transfer up north.
USED SUBS
Jay Fulton
The 28-year-old is the longest serving player in the squad, having joined the club in January 2014.
He would go on to play a small role in the 4-0 victory, replacing Jamie Paterson in an effort to see out the game.
So far this season the Scotsman has made 33 league appearances and has been a key cog in Martin’s midfield.
Korey Smith
Having moved across from Severnside rivals Bristol City, Smith was a popular figure during his time in south Wales.
The midfielder went on to make 72 appearances for the club, before departing for Derby County upon the expiry of his deal last summer.
Smith has made 31 appearances for Paul Warne’s side this season.
Cameron Congreve
Another academy product who is tipped for big things in the future.
Congreve has registered nine appearances for City so far this campaign and has just been called up to Matt Jones’ Wales under-21 squad.
UNUSED SUBS
Olivier Ntcham (still with the club), Kyle Joseph (on loan with Oxford United), Nathanael Ogbeta (on loan with Peterborough United), Ben Hamer (now with Watford).
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