Bersant Celina has already played in a number of positions this season but we’re now beginning to see his true ability and potential having now finally been played in his preferred position – as an attacking number ten behind the striker.
Swansea City’s main Summer signing, a £3m buy from Manchester City, the 22-year-old Kosovan was brought in to finally fill that number-1o shaped hole that had been ever existent since Gylfi Sigurdsson’s big move to Everton the Summer before.
Swans fans were desperate to see Celina playing and making things happen just behind McBurnie but we were made to wait for that as Graham Potter played him deep early on as well as on the left side of a midfield three as he waited for the likes of Leroy Fer to become available again.
Potter seems to have settled more on his strongest line-up. He’s only made one or two changes in recent weeks and that has seen Celina play with more freedom in the middle, although he still often drifts in and out from a wide left position to link up with Daniel James.
And it was that link up play down the left that helped set up McBurnie’s last two goals from open play. The second at home against Reading last week and McBurnie’s opener at Rotherham United on Saturday. Both goals were very similar and it was thanks to Celina that the Swans were able to get in behind the opposition so often in the first half at the New York Stadium.
According to WhoScored.com, Celina was Swansea’s highest rated player in the shock 2-1 defeat at Rotherham United and it’s no great surprise that he’s now improving every week having finally settled in his preferred position.
With 3 shots on goal, 2 of which on target, 2 key passes and 68 touches, Celina was as busy and as involved as ever and he’s proving to be a crucial part of our attacking play. Celina has the second most key passes in the Championship this season with 37, 3 behind the leader – Sheffield United’s Oliver Norwood.
