‘Classy’ John Swift will be huge for West Brom’s Championship playoff hopes – Dara O’Shea
West Brom skipped Dara O’Shea described teammate John Swift as a “classy performer” and believes the playmaker can have an influential role in the Championship playoff run-in.
A Daryl Dike double in their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday meant the Baggies kept their hopes of securing a playoff place well and truly alive.
Swift who has nine goal involvements to his name in the division so far this term put in a much-needed stellar showing as Albion recorded their first league win in four games.
And skipper O’Shea believes the 27-year-old will be huge for the Baggies in their chase for Premier League promotion in the coming weeks.
Speaking to West Brom’s official site [28 February], he said: “I think it’s clear for everyone to see just how good Swifty is.
“He’s a classy performer who has so much quality. He oozes class.
“I thought he was brilliant on Saturday against Middlesbrough and he obviously played a huge part in both of our goals.
“He has this habit of picking up the ball in areas of the pitch which are really dangerous. You need those players in your team because they are the players who can create chances.
“As a defender, you know that when you look up, he’s probably going to be in a really good position to receive the ball.
“He’s certainly more than capable of playing a huge role for us in the last few months of the season.”
Unique player
It is evidently clear that Swift has arguably become Carlos Corberan’s most gifted and unique player, because of his innovative and imaginative qualities in the final third.
The former Reading man sits second behind Wallace in terms of Championship assists this season with six to his name, and with the Baggies desperately in need of more goals to ensure their playoff place, Swift’s qualities will be crucial to their hopes.
Every top side in the division needs a creative and decisive playmaker in their squad, and Swift is certainly of that unique ilk, one who can unlock the best defences in the division as he showed on Saturday.
With Corberan desperate his attacking players to deliver in the coming weeks, Swift’s metronomic role in the Spaniard’s will be of huge importance for the Baggies as they maintain their playoff push. He must be kept fit in what will be a testing month of games for the club.
In other West Brom news, Albion fans have been urged to look at the bigger picture when it comes to this first-team player.