Why Swansea City may regret Huddersfield Town transfer action - it involves Adam Idah | OneFootball

Swansea City may come to regret loaning Bobby Wales to Huddersfield Town given Adam Idah is currently sidelined with an injury

While Swansea City didn't see any players leave the club on a permanent basis during the January transfer window, a number of young players departed on loan in search of regular first-team football.

Summer signing Bobby Wales was the highest-profile youngster to leave last month, with the 20-year-old striker joining Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the season as he looks to get to grips with English football.

The ex-Kilmarnock man has struggled for opportunities at Swansea since his move in the summer, making just six appearances for Vitor Matos' side, failing to start any of them. Given his age and the fact he signed a four-year deal, it's perhaps not a surprise that the Scottish youth international hasn't featured regularly, as he was seen as a signing for the future, rather than the here and now.

Had Swansea brought in a striker during the transfer window, a loan move for Wales would have made perfect sense, but given their failure to do so, coupled with Adam Idah's injury, the Swans could be caught short by sending the youngster on loan.

Swansea City are short of options after letting Bobby Wales leave on loan

With 15 Championship goals and 17 in all competitions this season, Zan Vipotnik is clearly Swansea's first choice striker and will start every game between now and the end of the season unless he is suspended or injured.

However, the Slovenian is currently Swansea's only out-and-out fit striker, and should he pick up an injury, Matos could be in trouble.

Idah is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, so this could have been the perfect chance for Wales to get Championship minutes under his belt off the bench to help adapt to the league.

Swansea also have Liam Cullen, who's capable of playing as a striker and registered 12 goals last season, but the Welshman is favoured as an attacking midfielder primarily, so being forced to play him further forward in the event of Vikpotnik being absent won't be ideal for Matos.

Wales is a youngster who is still trying to find his feet at Championship level, but the best way to get up to speed with the rigours of the league is to get minutes under your belt, and with just 22 minutes of league football at Swansea, this could have been the perfect chance for him to do so, allowing him to hit the ground running next season.

Swansea are in a position where they're unlikely to go up and unlikely to go down, allowing them to blood youngsters in the coming months, and with Huddersfield in the League One promotion mix, it remains to be seen how often he'll feature at the Accu Stadium.

Bobby Wales' move creates opportunities for other Swansea City youngsters

Matos will hope that Vipotnik is able to stay fit for the rest of the season, or at least until Idah returns, but the Swans boss has spoken about the opportunity that Wales' move has created for another young forward at the club.

19-year-old Thomas Woodward has been a shining light for Swansea's youth sides in recent seasons, and it looks like it's only a matter of time until he's given a chance in a first-team environment.

Speaking to Wales Online earlier this week, Matos said: "The first decision to let Bobby out is regarding his development and regarding his career as well, I think that's quite important.

"The second answer is that with that, we create space for Woody to train with the first team. That is important for us to see. He's a good player on the academy and we want him to do a next step as well. We used the academy and I think that's why I'm really happy."

Given Matos' history working at Liverpool as the club's elite development coach, it's perhaps no surprise he wishes to utilise Swansea's academy, and it's clear he feels the club have enough depth up front to send Wales out on loan.

In an ideal world for Swansea, Wales will feature regularly for the Terriers between now and the end of the season, while Woodward will also get Championship minutes, giving Matos two more genuine attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.