Liam Cullen embracing a big year ahead

Swansea City forward Liam Cullen is embracing the exciting challenge of what he hopes will be a big year ahead for club and country.

Cullen recently made his senior Wales debut in a 4-0 friendly win over Gibraltar in Wrexham, and was named on the bench as the national side secured an impressive 2-1 victory over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia to boost their hopes of reaching Euro 2024.

But the forward insists his first focus will be on his club form as he looks to build on a breakout season at Championship level last term, knowing performing well and helping the Swans will boost his chances of further international recognition, and a potential place at a European Championship finals should Wales qualify.

“It was unbelievable (to win my first cap). It was lifetime’s work for me, as it is for any player who makes a debut for their country,” he said.

“I’ve been involved in the camps since March so I’ve had time around the group and been on the bench, but I wanted to get on and play.

“The result against Croatia is one of the best of the campaign and maybe one of our best performances in recent years.

“Winning a cap gives you a lot of confidence and I came back on a high.

“Playing Leicester wasn’t the easiest game to come back to Swansea with, and I think we put in a good performance even though we lost. I just have to make sure I keep working hard and performing well.

Often deployed through the middle last season, Cullen has shown his adaptability this season.

For Wales, he played a deeper role with Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead ahead of him, while at Swans this season he has mostly played on the right-hand side.

“I’ve grown up as a number nine, but I’ve played a lot of my youth Wales career out wide,” added Cullen.

“I think I’m pretty versatile, I’ve played through the middle, out wide and a bit deeper, but I just want to be on the pitch and wherever I am, I’ll give it my best.

“I’m just trying to take the season game by game at Swansea, it’s important not to look too far ahead and just focus on what is in front of me.

“It was important for me to build on last season. I’m getting regular minutes now, and I’ve got a goal and a few assists.

“I’m playing for my home club, I’ve played here my whole life. I’m at the club I want to be at and there’s nothing a player can want more than to be playing regularly for his hometown club and the club he supports.”