Sunday 23 October 2016 13:05, UK
Swansea defender Alfie Mawson wants to fill the leadership void left by the summer departure of Ashley Williams following his long-awaited debut on Saturday.
The 22-year-old moved to the Liberty Stadium from Championship club Barnsley for £5m just before the end of the transfer window and has had to be patient to take his bow.
But following an impressive performance in the 0-0 draw with Watford, the centre-back believes he can emulate Williams who made over 350 appearances in eight years for Swansea before his summer transfer to Everton.
"I'd like to have the same impact he had when he came in here," Mawson said.
"He was a League Two player, but he helped the club rocket up the leagues and played at the Euros in the summer.
"Not so much football-wise, but being a leader. That's what some say is missing at this club because Ashley left a big hole in that respect.
"If I can take on that role I'm happy to do so."
New Swansea boss Bob Bradley singled Mawson out for praise after Swansea ended a run of four straight defeats and kept a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.
Bradley highlighted Mawson's "presence on the field" and said he was a natural organiser.
But the London-born defender admitted he had not expected to be in Bradley's squad, let alone make his Premier League debut.
"He told me I was playing on Friday morning before training," Mawson said. "To be honest, I thought he was going to tell me why I wasn't in the squad.
"But he said 'I'm going with you and I want you to go out there and be a leader'. To be seen as a leader is brilliant, to talk to everyone is what I'm used to doing.
"I was captain at Barnsley for a while last year and you also want to be known as a good person on and off the pitch.
"I will build myself into more of a leader as time goes on, but it was great to get a clean sheet."
