Season in Review: Player by player
With 2018-19 in the history books, we take a look at every player to make a first-team appearance for Swansea City over the course of the season.
Joel Asoro
Appearances: 17
Goals: 0
The highly-rated young winger arrived from Sunderland last summer and caused much excitement with his pre-season showings.
Started the season brightly – setting up the winner against Preston – but then dropped out of the team and found it difficult to break back into the starting XI. Was often utilised off the bench in the latter stages of the campaign.
Will look to kick on next season after settling in to life in SA1.
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Appearances: 21
Goals: 4
The striker had an agonising start to his league career with that sending off at Millwall, but showed character to bounce back and grab his first Swansea goal on his return from suspension.
With Oli McBurnie leading the line Baker-Richardson was a regular among the substitutes, but ended up with an impressive strike-rate of four goals in nine starts in all competitions.
Wilfried Bony
Appearances: 7
Goals: 1
Started the season still recovering from a serious knee injury. Was fit enough to make his return at Bolton and produced a trademark finish reminiscent of some of his goals from his first spell at Swansea in the defeat to Hull.
Joined Al-Arabi on loan in January.
George Byers
Appearances 25:
Goals: 3
Had to wait his time for his chance but, after making his debut against Crystal Palace, started to make his mark.
Became an integral part of the side over the second half of the season, dovetailing well with Matt Grimes in midfield and chipping in with a few goals from midfield.
He will take great encouragement from the impact he has made.
Tom Carroll
Appearances: 13
Goals: 0
Looked to be finding his stride dictating play in games against QPR and Wigan but injury problems soon derailed his season.
Moved to Aston Villa on loan in January, only for further hip problems to curtail his stint at Villa Park.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Appearances: 33
Goals: 0
Arrived on a season-long loan from Tottenham at the end of August and was eased into action before making his first start at Stoke.
Found it hard to break into the side as Joe Rodon and Mike van der Hoorn excelled, but took advantage of the former’s injury misfortune to become a solid and reliable presence at the heart of the Swans defence.
Bersant Celina
Appearances: 42
Goals: 8
The Kosovo international joined from Manchester City last summer and wasted little time exciting the Jack Army with his obvious talent on the ball.
Produced some sublime moments over the course of the campaign – goals against Gillingham, Brentford and Ipswich immediately spring to mind – and showed character by bouncing back from his penalty nightmare against West Brom with a superb showing against his old club in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup which included a sublime goal.
Brandon Cooper
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
The promising young defender was handed his debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace, and showed why he is so highly thought of with a composed showing.
Liam Cullen
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Long touted as an exciting prospect, the striker made his first-team bow as a substitute against the Eagles. Went on to score 10 goals for the under-23s.
Yan Dhanda
Appearances: 6
Goals: 1
Made the dream debut to end all dream debuts when he strode off the bench to score the winner with his first touch in senior football at Sheffield United.
Had to be patient where first-team chances are concerned and is very much one for the future.
Nathan Dyer
Appearances: 24
Goals: 3
The experienced winger – currently the Swans’ longest-serving player – made his mark from the mid-point of the season onwards.
Grew in confidence as he racked up game-time and scored his first league goals for the Swans in the best part of five years against Brentford. Also netted against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Leroy Fer
Appearances: 27
Goals: 1
The Dutchman was named club captain at the outset of the campaign while still recovering from a ruptured Achilles.
He returned earlier than expected, but injury niggles dogged his season with groin, hamstring and knee problems afflicting him.
Federico Fernandez
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
The popular Argentinian defender started the win at Sheffield United on the opening day before making a move to Newcastle United.
Jay Fulton
Appearances: 37
Goals: 3
The Scot was another to make the most of the opportunity for regular game time, and revealed a previously unseen element of his game with some clever attacking movement and finishing.
Manager Graham Potter admitted Fulton was unlucky not to feature more often, and he was outstanding against Manchester City, and his place on the bench served as a reminder of just how well Swansea performed over the closing weeks of the season.
Matt Grimes
Appearances: 50
Goals: 2
Started the season with his future far from certain, ends it as one of the first names on Potter’s team sheet and with the club’s Player of the Year award deservedly on his mantelpiece.
Whether playing midfield, left-back or centre-half, the former Exeter man had a brilliant season.
His ability to dictate play and keep Swansea moving was made all the more impressive by the understated, matter-of-fact fashion in which it was accomplished.
Made more passes than any other Championship player over the course of the season.
Cian Harries
Appearances: 6
Goals: 0
The former Coventry youngster was another to make his bow against Palace.
Had a handful of league appearances, but often found himself utilised in the closing stages of games.
All the same will be pleased to have made his breakthrough and will hope to emulate his under-23s defensive partner Joe Rodon.
Daniel James
Appearances: 38
Goals: 5
Had initially suggested to Potter that he wanted to go out on loan, but the decision to keep him as part of the squad paid rich dividends as James became one of the stars of the season.
Showed glimpses of his raw ability when first brought into the side, but then developed at a staggering rate to become a noticeable more rounded and accomplished player by the season’s end.
His ability to keep running at defenders with a ceaseless energy caught the eye, but he made real strides in decision-making and his goals against Brentford and Stoke will be replayed and replayed as long as Swansea City play football. A stunning breakthrough season.
Declan John
Appearances: 13
Goals: 0
The full-back joined from Rangers last summer after an injury-hit pre-season and needed some time to get up and running.
Strong performances and results over the second half of the season limited his chances, but showed glimpses of what he can do with exciting showings at wing-back against Derby and Blackburn.
Oli McBurnie
Appearances: 44
Goals: 24
The striker had long coveted the chance to lead the Swansea line, and he grabbed that opportunity with both hands.
Twenty four goals in 44 appearances tells its own story, and he is among the Championship’s most lethal finishers over the last season and a half.
But showed he is not just about goals, with his intelligent movement and link play opening up space for others.
Barrie McKay
Appearances: 31
Goals: 3
Joining from Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, McKay made an outstanding debut at Sheffield United and ended the season with seven assists despite not being a regular starter.
Found breaking into the side difficult once the Swans hit their stride over the closing months, but offered enough to suggest he has the talent to make an impact in SA1.
Jefferson Montero
Appearances: 12
Goals: 0
The Ecuador international’s pace turned games at Sheffield United and Millwall on their head, while he also made a big impact in the draw with Birmingham.
Joined West Brom on loan during the January transfer window.
Erwin Mulder
Appearances: 27
Goals: 0
Unexpectedly handed his debut when Kristoffer Nordfeldt was forced off against Preston, and wasted little time laying down a marker with a string of clean sheets.
Particularly impressed against Birmingham in ensuring Swansea somehow left St Andrew’s with a point.
Saw game time shared out as Potter sought to give both goalkeepers an opportunity, before a finger injury ended his season early.
Luciano Narsingh
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
The Dutch winger was rarely utilised with Potter having a number of wide options to choose from. Made substitute outings against Leeds and Middlesbrough.
Kyle Naughton
Appearances: 38
Goals: 1
Was not initially an automatic starter, but got his chance and took it. Even slotted in to midfield with some aplomb on occasions and was a more than able option at left-back once injury had ended Martin Olsson’s season prematurely.
The former Tottenham man was another who seemed to enjoy the style of play Swansea looked to utilise under Potter.
Kristoffer Nordfeldt
Appearances: 25
Goals: 0
Started the season as first-choice, only for injury to pitch him into a battle for the goalkeeper spot with Mulder.
Led the way among Championship goalkeepers with his passing stats, and a number of flowing team moves started with his distribution.
Martin Olsson
Appearances: 17
Goals: 0
Arrived back in South Wales on a high after helping Sweden to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Without a pre-season behind him it took time to build up to a level he was happy with, and then saw his season cruelly ended by a ruptured Achilles at Brentford.
Tyler Reid
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
The full-back was handed his first-team debut off the bench in that Carabao Cup game back in August. Released at the end of the season.
Connor Roberts
Appearances: 49
Goals: 5
Having made his breakthrough during the 2017-18 season, Roberts nailed down a regular place for club and country.
His relentless energy was a real asset down the Swans’ right flank, whether playing at full-back, wing-back or an out-and-out winger.
Posed a real goal threat, and only the woodwork denied him adding a fair few more to his tally of five.
Joe Rodon
Appearances: 28
Goals: 0
Thrust into the spotlight against Preston, the Llangyfelach product shone with his maturity and was another to make a breakthrough at first-team level.
Comfortable on the ball, but able to handle the division’s physicality, he was unfortunate to suffer the metatarsal injury which kept him sidelined for over two months.
Wayne Routledge
Appearances: 26
Goals: 5
Like good friend Dyer, Routledge had to be patient over the opening months of the season but ended the campaign as a key figure for Potter’s side.
An outstanding display at Brentford kicked off an excellent run of form, and his intelligent movement saw him utilised as a number 10 and even a main striker.
Served up several reminders of his class, including a wonderful assist against Blackburn.
Mike van der Hoorn
Appearances: 50
Goals: 3
Skippered the side during Fer’s time on the treatment table and was a strong presence at the heart of the defence.
Confident on the ball and a sharp reader of the game, the 26-year-old seemed to relish his seniority in the dressing room and news of a year’s extension to his contract being activated is a positive for all concerned.
