Ross Stewart relishing Swansea City squad competition

Ross Stewart says he is relishing the competition for places in Swansea City's forward line as he looks to build on opening his account for the club.

The Scotland international got off the mark in last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers with a fine striker's finish, having worked his way back from an injury-disrupted start to the campaign.

With Zan Vipotnik, Adam Idah and Stewart all competing for opportunities, the striker believes the strength in depth among the attacking options can help drive the Swans forward this season.

“I’m really enjoying it. The club is a fantastic club and I’ve really enjoyed coming in every day," he said.

“It was a tough start with the injuries, but I’m feeling really good now, building on each day as it goes by and starting to get more involved in games, which is always pleasing.

“I had a lot of chats with the manager in the summer and he really convinced me to come here. It was a new challenge as well, somewhere new and somewhere different.

"How warm the gaffer was in his chat with me and how he sees me fitting in was really positive and suited my ambition."

Stewart arrived at Swansea alongside strong competition for places in the forward line, with Vipotnik having finished as both the club's and the Championship's leading scorer last season, while Idah also brings proven experience at this level.

All three have made contributions this season, and Stewart says the relationship between the attacking players has been a constructive one, with the trio helping to bring the best out of each other.

“The three of us get on really well and we’re really close as a group in the dressing room,” he added. 

“Walking into any Championship club, there are always top players at each club, but then it’s all about earning the jersey and keeping the jersey.

“We’re all in the same boat, but at the same time, if you’ve not got the jersey, you always support your teammates at all times.

“That’s what’s been installed throughout the dressing room this season. That’s the depth we’ve got and what’s needed to challenge at the very top.”

The Swans will be looking to respond to Tuesday night's late defeat at Portsmouth when they travel to Birmingham City this weekend.

And Stewart is keen for the side to reproduce the levels they showed against Blackburn as they look to get back to winning ways.

“The Blackburn result was a good one and a very good performance. We’ve been strong at home, but it was disappointing to lose on Tuesday," he continued. 

“I thought, especially during the last half-hour, we were the team in the ascendancy and, if it looked like there was going to be one winner, it would be us.

“We got the penalty and when we scored, we thought it would be us. But what happened later on can happen in football. Set-pieces can decide games and we’ve got to be better, and I am still annoyed with myself about the chance I missed as I back myself to put those away.

“Moving forward, it’s going to be the same this Saturday. It’s going to be another really tough test. 

"They’re a really strong team at home. I think they’ve lost one of their last six or seven, so it’s going to be tough and we’ve got to try and find the levels that we found last Saturday. If we do that, we know that gives us a chance.”