Jonathan de Guzman drops a double Dutch hint as Swansea City beat Stoke City
Swansea City 3 Stoke City 1
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Your support makes all the difference.Jonathan de Guzman's brilliant double will have given the Netherlands manager, Louis van Gaal, a timely nudge on Saturday. Swansea's uncapped midfielder struck twice in the space of 23 second-half minutes, with a superb textbook curling free-kick followed by the finishing gloss on a sensational team goal.
The impressive display came in front of the Dutch assistant manager, Danny Blind, at the Liberty Stadium. Now the Canadian-born De Guzman, who has represented the Netherlands at Under-21 level, believes he has staked his claim for a debut senior call-up for next month's friendly against Italy. "I was aware Danny was here – that's why I scored the two goals!" De Guzman said. "They are keeping an eye on a couple of the Dutch players and I think I had a decent game. I am very happy with how it went."
De Guzman is on a season-long loan from Villarreal and the 25-year-old indicated he would like to stay with Michael Laudrup's Swans next season. "I'm happy, it's going well and I've scored six goals," he said. "If there is an opportunity I would love to stay."
Aside from De Guzman's standout show, Swansea warmed up in perfect fashion for their Capital One Cup semi-final, second leg against Chelsea on Wednesday night – in which they hold a 2-0 advantage – with Ben Davies breaking the deadlock with his first senior goal.
For Stoke, Michael Owen's injury-time header for his landmark 150th Premier League goal, proved scant consolation, but Tony Pulis insists he wants to keep the England forward.
"If Michael wanted to leave I've an office that I work in and he can bang on the door and say he wants to leave," the Stoke manager said. "I'm pleased for Michael. He's come on and scored a goal. He looks fitter and sharper. He just needs games. He's a good player to come off the bench if you need a goal."
The future of fellow Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones is also up in the air. The Trinidad & Tobago forward was last week the subject of a £3m bid from Swansea, which was rejected, but he is expected to seal a move to the Liberty Stadium later this week.
Stoke defender Robert Huth said: "All the lads would be gutted if he left. It'd be a great signing for Swansea."
Goals: Swansea City Davies 49, De Guzman 57, 80. Stoke City Owen 90+1.
Substitutions: Swansea City Lamah 7 (Hernandez, 64), Graham (Shechter, 74), Britton (Michu, 78).
Stoke City Jerome 6 (Adam, 63), Jones 6 (Crouch, 63), Owen (Etherington, 85).
Man of the match Davies.
Match rating 7/10.
Possession: Swansea City 56%. Stoke City 44%.
Attempts on target: Swansea City 3. Stoke City 2.
Referee M Dean (Merseyside).
Attendance 19,603.
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