Rob DaviesYou’d be hard pushed to have found many fans understanding why Marc Guehi was thrown in by Steve Cooper so soon after signing on loan from Chelsea back in 2020.
The centre back initially looked nervous in what was a team struggling for confidence before the football world took a break due to Covid-19 but this was his first ever taste of senior football.
What was to come thereafter was spectacular – the boy became a man and left a hole in the Swansea team that is being felt far more this season than many realise.
Guehi was a rock in the centre of defence with his pace and strength making him by far the best defender in the league last season and better things were always going to come for him.
The fact that the Swans have been at times so poor at the back this season isn’t solely down to the loss of Guehi but there is no doubt that the backline is in desperate need of a player with similar qualities.
For now, the 21 year old is set for his international debut with England after his call up today by Gareth Southgate and you wouldn’t bet against him getting in ahead of Harry Maguire after his error strewn season at Manchester United.
England manager Southgate was full of praise for his new call-up: “We were thinking next season would probably be more likely for Marc.
“But he makes so few mistakes. He has really impressed me this season.
“He’s had a really consistent season – really impressed on and off the ball.
“In the biggest games he has been very calm. He’s a junior World Cup winner.
“He’s been a real plus for Crystal Palace.”
Guehi joins fellow former Swans loanees Conor Gallacher and Tammy Abraham in the squad for the upcoming internationals.
To remind fans of what a likeable character he was, see the video for his final interview as a Swan after the home draw against Barnsley to take us to Wembley last season. We certainly wish him the very best for the future.
Guehi rarely played at the centre of defence and he only came good from around Christmas before he left.
Very good by the time he left us.