Russell Martin | This will be an important period for us

Russell Martin believes an important period lies immediately ahead of Swansea City as they prepare to return to Championship action against Hull City on Saturday (3pm).

Following a brief but welcome respite during the international break, the Swans host the Tigers looking to bounce back from defeat at Preston last time out.

Head coach Martin and his staff were only in place for the week of the Championship opener at Blackburn, and a sequence of seven games in just 21 days meant there was limited time for coaches and players to get down to deep, meaningful work on implementing a new style of play.

So, the two-week gap between the Deepdale defeat and the visit of Grant McCann’s League One champions has been welcome.

And, with Martin happy with the work that has been put in in recent days, he knows it’s important to deliver on that training ground graft in the weeks ahead.

“It’s a really important period, it’s been like a mini pre-season for us in terms of the work we have been able to put in,” he said.

“Listen, we would still love a few more weeks before having another game.

“But I think we are playing Saturday and Wednesday for the next few weeks and that extra day in between games probably helps us a little bit in terms of the process and how we can approach it and attack it.

“But this is the Championship, it’s the nature of the game, it’s the nature of the beast this early on in the season when you have the cup games as well, if you have been fortunate enough to get through.

“So, we are not going to complain about it, we have had some time to work. It’s now back to trying to keep building as we are progressing and going along.

“We want to kick on and keep going. We have not had time to put everything in place and make sure everyone understands everything we want and expect.

“Physically we are in a better place than two weeks ago, and it’s now about making sure we improve and learn as we go through the games.

“We want to see performances, with real intensity and conviction because that is what will lead to results.”