SWANSEA City have been “not so easy to prepare for” due to immense disruption by COVID cases, says manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The South Wales Championship outfit have not played any competitive fixture since December 11 due to COVID postponements and continue to have some cases in their squad now.

Hasenhuttl says it makes it harder to be fully prepped as you do not know what team you are going to face, as well as not having a recent match to scout and analyse.

“It was not so easy to prepare for this game, you never know what team you are going to be facing now,” Hasenhuttl said, ahead of the FA Cup clash.

“Even more important it is to concentrate on your own strengths.”

The boss continued, adding that postponed matches of their own have added further disruption: “We have had a game postponed (Newcastle) which we would have liked to play because it was perfect for the rhythm.

“You have your plan over this busy schedule exactly balancing what player gets what chances to play, how we did it over the last two games, but this disrupts now everything.”

Saints’ Premier League clash with Newcastle on January 2 was postponed due to the opposition not having enough players.