Phil Sumbler
Carl Rushworth is on a third season on loan away from his parent club in Brighton & Hove Albion and, as he approaches the 100th league appearance of his career he is coming of age in SA1 as the Swans gradually continue their climb up the league table.
Rushworth made 43 league appearances for Walsall two seasons ago before achieving 42 at Lincoln last season which prompted the Swans to move for a season long loan in the summer when Michael Duff decided he needed a change in goal at the club. It was a change that has seen Andy Fisher drop to the bench and Steven Benda head to Fulham.
Rushworth has been an ever present in the side since arriving here in South West Wales and assuming he retains that status then he will make the 100th league appearance of his career when Watford arrive at the Swansea.com stadium on 24th October.
It wasn’t the steadiest of starts for Rushworth at Swansea but it is always difficult for a keeper to shine when the side is not performing and his opening 8 games in goal saw him fail to keep a clean sheet as the Swans went through it without a league win. But as the team form changes so does that of a keeper and in the five game unbeaten run, Rushworth has conceded just three goals with his first two clean sheets – Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall – added to the form.
Rushworth was as much of a key player in Saturdays win at Plymouth as anyone – his save when the score was 1-1 kept the Swans on an even keel in the game which they eventually went onto win thanks to goals after the save from both Ollie Cooper and Josh Key.
“I’ll have to watch the save back, but I’m just there to do my job,” he told the official website.
“I think the lads did enough to shorten the angle and that makes my job easier, but I’m there to help the lads where I can and they’re obviously helping me out all the time.”
There will be mixed feelings in SA1 about the international break which has come on the back of four straight wins but Rushworth is also appreciative of the break before the Swans return to a run of five games in three weeks before they break again.
“Sometimes when you’re in this kind of form, you don’t want the break,” added Rushworth.
“But the games have come thick and fast and the break will be good, and going into the break with a win is great.”
Rushworth signed a new contract at Brighton before departing for Swansea on loan which highlights how highly he is thought of down in Sussex and, at the time, Brighton technical director David Weir said “Carl has improved year-on-year with loans in non-league, League Two and League One.
“Now he is making another step up which is a really exciting prospect for him – we’re looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the next year with Swansea.”
Rushworth’s spell at Swansea was always fuelled by the presence of Martyn Margestson who is back at the club thus year. The coach knows Rushworth well from his time with the England international set up and Rushworth himself acknowledged that back in July when he signed on at the club
“After speaking with Marge from the start, with the experience he’s got and the amount of games I hope to play this season, it’s a no-brainer really.
“There’re so many positives it would be foolish of me to turn it down.
“For me to be in Marge’s eyeline every single day, he’ll be giving me all the advice he can give me.
“I think it’s going to be very beneficial for my career as well to have the England senior goalkeeping coach working with me.”
Rushworth does appear to remain a keeper who has got a big future ahead of him and that development that he talks about can only benefit as us a club as the season goes forward. Rushworth is definitely coming of age.
