Melker Widell: Swansea City’s lucky charm growing ‘from the rain’

In seven months at Swansea City, Melker Widell has gone from fringe figure to lucky charm.

Widell has had to remain patient since arriving in Wales, having failed even to make the bench at times when Alan Sheehan was Swansea’s head coach.

But Widell has been given a much more significant role by Vitor Matos and, so far at least, the switch has brought spectacular results.

The midfielder has started seven Championship games under Matos. Swansea have won six of those, with the other ending in a draw.

By contrast, Matos’ Swans have failed to win any of the five league matches they have begun without Widell in the side.

It is the sort of statistic that players might like to highlight to their team-mates in the dressing room.

Widell grins at the idea – but insists he has done nothing of the sort.

“I haven’t, I haven’t,” he says. “I don't know how popular that would be if I went bragging like that!

“It’s a nice personal boost of course, to know that it goes well.

“First and foremost it’s just a nice feeling to know that you’re winning games because that’s what we’re here to do and we’re doing that more now, so I’m happy.”