Alfie Mawson determined to keep hold of Swansea City starting spot
22nd October
Alfie Mawson is determined to hold on to the shirt after helping Swansea City to a clean sheet on his long-awaited debut.
Mawson's only action in Swans colours before this weekend had come in the Checkatrade Trophy.
But the £5 million former Barnsley man was pitched into the Premier League cauldron by new boss Bob Bradley - and responded with an impressive display at the heart of defence as the Swans drew 0-0 with Watford.
Now the 22-year-old intends to ensure there will be plenty more top-flight appearances coming his way.
"I don't want to come in and get a game now and again - that's not how I am," Mawson said.
"When I get in the team, I want to make sure I stay there.
"When I came here, I always knew it was going to be tough and be a battle because you're fighting with international players for a place in the team.
"Coming from my background, people might have thought I wasn't ready, but I was adamant that I would be ready.
"I thank the gaffer for giving me my opportunity. There's no fitness like match fitness, and hopefully now I can stay in the team and keep working hard."
Mawson, Mike van der Hoorn and Stephen Kingsley were all drafted into the Swans back four by Bradley in only his second game in charge.
And they all played their part as Lukasz Fabianski registered a first shutout since the 1-0 win at Burnley on the opening day of the season.
"It was good to make my debut and even better to keep a clean sheet," Mawson added.
"I knew I had to do the basics right - try as hard as I can and touch wood nothing would go wrong. Thankfully, today was a good start.
"The only thing missing was the win. We had a few chances to win it. If you look at Mike's chance, if anything he connected too well with it, while a few of them were straight at the keeper. A yard to the left or right of him, and he wouldn't have been able to get to them. But that's football.
"For me, the clean sheet is the most important thing for the back five. We were solid and Watford didn't really have any chances.
"It's something to build on. More chances will come. With the players we have here, we've got goals in us. I think it's just a matter of time, and when it does come, they'll start flooding in."
