The Swans resume their Championship campaign away to Charlton on Saturday, having given Manchester City a notable fright in midweek.
Sheehan had given a number of fringe players a start against Pep Guardiola’s side and they responded by playing some of their best football of the season in a courageous Carabao Cup last-16 tie at the Swansea.Com Stadium.
Having taken a 1-0 lead, the team - which featured 21-year-old Kaelan Casey, 19-year-old Ishe Samuels-Smith, and Melker Widell (23) - eventually succumbed to second-half goals in a 3-1 defeat.
But not before the trio - as well as other irregular starters such as Zeidane Inoussa - has stated their claims for more minutes as starters.
“There were a few players who came into the team, who perhaps haven't had an awful lot of Championship football, who really put their hands up,” said Sheehan.
“Kaelan Casey, Ishe Samuels-Smith, and Melker Widell, were all excellent.
“I was asked the other day if I knew my best team and I said I know my best team for every individual game or tried to.
“But the fact is there's not a lot between some of the starters and the game-changers in certain games at the moment.
“Ultimately, we want people to get minutes but we have to keep people fresh.”
READ MORE: Alan Sheehan Insists Swansea City Found Pride . . . But Not Perfection
Charlton are back in the second tier this term having secured promotion courtesy of victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley in the play-offs.
Under Welsh manager Nathan Jones, the Addicks have made a strong start to the season and enter the weekend sitting in the play-off places.
They have lost just one of their last eight Championship games, and have lost just once on home soil - to Leicester - in the league so far this season.
Cameron Burgess insist the Swan - who are seven places but only three points behind Charlton - will be looking to build on their midweek performance.
The Australia international said: "Wednesday was a good occasion for the club, we went toe-to-toe with top quality opposition, one of the best teams in the world.
“It was always going to be difficult, but we gave it absolutely everything.
"We can be proud of our effort, and we can take this going ito the league.
"We've got a busy few weeks ahead of us leading into the international break. As players at this level, that's something we're used to. We just make sure we recover well, train well and that we're always ready to go for the next one.
"It's another big game Saturday at Charlton. I've actually caught a few of their games this season, I'm expecting a tough game, but we want to put in another performance we can be proud of.
"They did really well last season to get promoted, they'll be confident going into the game following their last win, but we'll be looking to also bring confidence from the Man City game.
"We said in the dressing room after the game, as much as we have been beaten, it's something we can be proud of and we'll look to take the positives into the weekend and be at our best for the fans."
⚽ Charlton Athletic vs Swansea City — Match Factfile
📍 Venue: The Valley, London
📅 Date: Saturday 26 October 2025
⏰ Kick-off: 3.00pm (UK time)
📺 Live on: Sky Sports Red Button & SwansTV Live
💥 Headline
Swansea City look to turn midweek promise into Championship points as Cameron Burgess urges the side to “put in another performance we can be proud of” against in-form Charlton Athletic.
🧾 Competition
EFL Championship – Matchday 14
🔎 Players to Watch
Charlton Athletic: Sonny Carey, Macaulay Gillesphey, lloyd Jones
Swansea City: Cameron Burgess, Gonçalo Franco, Melker Widell
💬 Player’s View
"Wednesday was a good occasion for the club, we went toe-to-toe with top quality opposition, one of the best teams in the world. It was always going to be difficult, but we gave it absolutely everything," said Cameron Burgess.
"We can be proud of our effort, and we can take this going into the league.
It’s another big game Saturday at Charlton… we want to put in another performance we can be proud of."
💬 Coach’s View
“There were a few players who came into the team, who perhaps haven't had an awful lot of Championship football, who really put their hands up,” said interim head coach Alan Sheehan.
“Kaelan Casey, Ishe Samuels-Smith, and Melker Widell were all excellent. Ultimately, we want people to get minutes but we have to keep people fresh.”
💷 What’s at Stake
After pushing Manchester City all the way in midweek, the Swans return to league action aiming to climb towards the play-off positions. Victory would move them within touching distance of a Charlton side that has lost just once at home this season.
📈 Form Guide
Charlton: W D W D L W
Swansea: L D W L D L
📊 League Position
Charlton – 6th (22 pts)
Swansea – 13th (19 pts)
💡 Did You Know?
Charlton are unbeaten in their last six home meetings with Swansea in all competitions. The Swans’ last win at The Valley came in February 2008 under Roberto Martínez.
📈 Odds
Charlton Athletic 1/1
Draw 9/4
Swansea City 14/5
