Only four Swansea players have played more minutes than Naughton this season, showing how important he has become. If he gets another one today against Reading, it will be his longest starting streak since the Swans were relegated from the Premier League. He is currently on a run of 14 consecutive league starts. Nevertheless he has excelled in the role and has by now established himself as a key player in Russell Martin’s system.
Naughton, who must be one of the division’s shortest centre-backs at exactly six feet tall, doesn’t exactly fit this stereotype. READ MORE: The latest Swansea City news and views can be found right here This position is usually reserved for the biggest, nastiest defender, possibly the one who would struggle most for pace if dragged into wider areas or the one best placed to win headers against an imposing opposition striker. It raised a few eyebrows at the time but Naughton has settled into the role very impressively. He even played several games in central midfield under Graham Potter and did surprisingly well there.īut at the age of 33 he may have finally found the position he was born to play.Įarly in the season, Russell Martin took the bold move of placing Naughton smack bang in the middle of a back three and that’s where he has stayed ever since. He has regularly switched from right-back to left-back throughout his career. Naughton has always been a very versatile player. Many Swansea City fans have complained for years that Kyle Naughton doesn’t get enough credit but with the veteran defender playing an unexpected starring role, that may no longer be true.
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