Alfie Mawson may have netted three goals in Swansea City’s bid for safety – but his contribution at the other end of the pitch has also impressed Lukasz Fabianski.
The Swans’ Polish stopper has hailed the young centre-back who has been tipped to be the heart of the defence for many years to come.
Mawson’s displays have even seen the first shouts of eventual England recognition for the 23-year-old who joined from Barnsley last summer.
“Alfie has been a real plus for us – his defending, his quality on the ball, his goals,” said the Polish keeper.
“He is a very important figure on the pitch. He’s a very good defender and is comfortable on the ball,” said Fabianski.
“It’s his first season in the Premier League but you can see he is improving with every single game.
“His goals have been very important for us – they all came in victories – but it his defending that has really pleased me.”
Manager Paul Clement has also been impressed by Mawson whose stunning volley set the Swans on their way to a vital 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Liberty Stadium.
“Yeah he is doing well,” said Clement. “For his age and his relative lack of experience, even at the level below I don’t think he’s played a lot.
“The club made a good signing there.
“At the moment he is playing all the time and learning and improving. I’ve seen an improvement in him in the time since I’ve been here.
“He is improving defensively and is a real threat in the opposition box on set-pieces in every game.
“He seems to get his head on one, that either goes in – against Southampton and Palace – and he was close against Man City, he had another one against Liverpool.
“If he keeps going like he is he can have a good future at this club.”
The Swans have a break this weekend due to the FA Cup fixtures but have done so with their future looking far brighter.
The victory over the champions took them four points clear but Fabianski saying they have to be thinking about moving higher up the table.
The 31-year-old told swanseacity.net: “We were very pleased with the result against Leicester, and a clean sheet was hugely satisfying for me too.
“We have clearly improved defensively. It was a bit of a struggle earlier in the season, but the gaffer has worked hard on tightening us up and making us compact – it is working.
“We have to look at what is happening above us.
“What we are trying to do is get closer to the teams higher in the table rather than look below us.
“I think that’s the best attitude to have. We are in a better position, but this can all change within one round of fixtures.
