Andre Ayew | We have to do our job

Andre Ayew wants Swansea City to solely focus on getting their job done at Reading on Wednesday, and not allow themselves to be distracted with thoughts over what may - or may not - happen elsewhere.

The Swans will head to the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday still in with a chance of a play-off spot as the season reaches its climax.

Steve Cooper’s side will need to win against the Royals, and hope results involving Cardiff or Nottingham Forest go their way, if they are to secure the top-six finish required to extend their season.

It makes for an exciting and intriguing finale to a long season, extended beyond its usual timespan by the Coronavirus pandemic.

And, in these unprecedented times, Swans top scorer Ayew knows it is absolutely vital he and his team-mates keep their sights fixed only on the outcome in Berkshire on Wednesday night, and not allow any distractions.

“In this league anything is possible. We’ve seen it over the course of this weekend,” he said.

“But we have to do our job. We are not in control of any other game.

“Hull also have to win to have any possibility of trying to stay up. It’s an open game. Cardiff also need a point. We’ll see. We have to do our job and afterwards we’ll hope for the best.

“I’d prefer to be in Cardiff’s position. In football you have three possibilities – win, lose or draw. Cardiff have two possibilities – win or draw – and that position is good for them.

“We know in football that when you are also playing a team who is fighting for their lives it’s very difficult.

“We saw it with Stoke (beating Brentford) and with Huddersfield (beating West Brom).

“It’s open and we just have to do our job, because if something happens at Cardiff and we don’t get the three points we’ll be really, really disappointed.

“We don’t want that to happen so we will try and do our job and get the three points.”

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that Ayew would prove to be an integral and influential figure in Swansea’s promotion efforts, after he spent the 2018-19 season on loan with Fenerbahce.

But he has been a wholehearted leader on and off the field.

He has 17 goals to his name and has embraced his senior role in a young squad. Now, he is desperate to ensure the season ends on a high.

“I’m very happy with the season. I’m happy with the squad I’ve had around me and the players who have given me a lot of confidence and responsibility,” he added.

“I know the role I have to play in the squad. I’m quite happy but I’ll only be really happy if we sneak into the play-offs.

“If not, it will be sad because we really had a good season and squad and the players, the city, the club and the fans deserve to at least make the play-offs.

“The quality is there – there is no doubt about that.

“The club has the youth and quality here – it’s top level. With young players like Ben Cabango, Marc (Guehi), Yan Dhanda, Bersant Celina... I can name a lot.

“The quality is there, the boys have grown quickly and I just hope it’s not too late for this season.

“We’re not going to think about next season, we’re going to think about this one because it’s still on. Everything is still to play for.”