Potter relishing Blues reunion

Graham Potter has admitted he will always be grateful to Birmingham City as he gets to return to St Andrew’s with Swansea City tonight (7.45pm).

Potter looks to continue his impressive start to life as Swans boss when he faces the club where he learned his trade.

Born in Solihull, Potter joined Birmingham as a schoolboy and made his first-team debut for the club as a teenager in the 1992-93 campaign.

He played 32 games in all for the Blues at the start of a lengthy playing career, and he is relishing the prospect of leading the Swans out on his old stamping ground.

“I am looking forward to going back,” Potter said.

“Birmingham City were the club that gave me my opportunity. You need someone to give you that chance and I will always be grateful for that.

“I started there as a 14-year-old and I made my debut at 17. It was not a vintage Birmingham City team at the time – that’s probably why I got into it!

“But I know from experience that St Andrew’s is a powerful place when the crowd get behind the team. It will be tough for us, but I am looking forward to it.”

While Potter returns to his old manor, the man in the opposite dugout this evening will be facing the club where he made his name.

Birmingham boss Garry Monk begin his managerial career with the Swans after a decade as one of their players.

“Garry was captain of this club, a part of the promotions and everything that went with the positive story here,” Potter said.

“He was also a success as Swansea manager, and it’s nice to see him back in work after the experience he had at Middlesbrough.

“He is a young, talented manager with a bright future ahead of him.

“He did a fantastic job when he went into Birmingham last season. He stabilised the club and turned things around.

“It looked as though it went from quite a negative situation to a positive one and full credit to him for that.

“He has a team who can attack really well and St Andrew’s is a tough place to go.”