Swansea will not recall Michu in January

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has insisted the club will not recall Michu from his season-long loan at Napoli when Wilfried Bony leaves to play in the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Depending on how Côte d’Ivoire do in the compeition, Bony, 25, could miss as many as six matches for the Swans, including English Premier League fixtures against West Ham United, Chelsea, Southampton, Sunderland, and West Bromwich Albion.

When asked if he would bring Michu back to the Liberty Stadium in January, Monk said: “Michu is on loan at Napoli for the season. I’m not even thinking about that, I’ve not even checked the details of the loan.

“Obviously Ivory Coast’s qualification dictates what you do in terms of January. We may have to go into the loan market or do something to cover it.

“We’ve already been looking at all the positions but now Bony has qualified a striker is the position we do now have to cover.

“We could promote from within, but it is likely to be a loan. It might be a loan with a view to a permanent or to next season, or just for a month.

“We don’t know but we will look at all the options.”

Assuming Swansea do not bring in any reinforcements in January, former Olympique Lyonnais striker Bafétimbi Gomis would be the main front-man for the Garry Monk’s side.

The France international, 29, has been impressive in limited opportunities this season. Earlier this month, Gomis bagged his first career Premier League goal, which just happened to be the match-winner against Arsenal.

Brown signs new Celtic deal

Celtic F.C. captain Scott Brown has put pen to paper on a new deal with the Scottish Premier League champions.

The Scotland international, 29, is now tied to Celtic Park until June 2018.

“It’s an absolute privilege to extend my contract with Celtic, a brilliant football club and with such incredible supporters. This is a place that I call home,” Brown said.

“Being Celtic captain is a tremendous honour and it is a role which I cherish dearly.

“The team is in a great place just now and we’re all right behind the manager and the backroom team as they build for the future.

“I will do all I can with the manager and all the players at the club to deliver the success which our supporters deserve.”

Brown has tallied two assists in eight league appearances for Celtic this season.

Celtic (8-2-2) currently top-of-the-table on goal difference with a game in hand over second-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle (8-2-3).