Swans’ squad depth is best since relegation – Fulton

Jay Fulton believes Swansea City’s current squad depth is the best it has been since the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

The midfielder joined the Swans from Falkirk in January 2014 and is now representing the club in the Championship for a ninth successive campaign.

With 10 games of 2026-27 played, Vitor Matos’ side sit atop the table, having earned 23 of the 30 points on offer – making it Swansea’s best start to a season since exiting the top-flight just over eight years ago.

When asked whether Swansea have their strongest squad depth since dropping into the second tier, Fulton responded: “I think so.

“If you look at it on paper, there’s almost two players in every position. The manager rotates the team quite a lot, and the results have kept coming.”

Swansea’s depth is perhaps best evidenced by the fact that Matos is one of only two bosses in the league – Bristol City’s Michael Skubala being the other – to use all 50 substitution slots available to him so far this term.

The Swans have seen four goals scored from subs already this season, the joint-second most of any team in the division.

“It feels like a bigger squad; it feels like [there is] a lot more depth and quality,” Fulton added.

“When one player comes out, the next player comes in, and I don’t feel as if there’s been any drawback from it really.”

Swansea showed plenty of encouraging signs under Matos last season, following the Portuguese coach’s arrival at the club in November.

They have continued to impress on home soil, having gone unbeaten in their five games at the Swansea.com Stadium so far this campaign.

But their away form has dramatically improved, with Swansea’s average of 2.4 points per game on the road comfortably the best of any side in the division.

Fulton believes Swansea’s sublime start to the campaign is down to the culture Matos has created at the club.

“It’s been really enjoyable, I think you can see it from the games we’ve played and how together the team looks,” added the Scottish midfielder.

“The training ground every day is a good place to come in, and obviously it helps when you’re winning, but the environment the manager has created is a good one.

“He gets everybody playing minutes; there aren’t many people not playing minutes, so everybody’s together and everybody’s pushing in one direction.”

Fulton’s feeling of belonging returns

Fulton has featured in all but one of Swansea’s 10 league games so far this term, and captained them to a 3-0 win at Derby County and a 0-0 draw with Wrexham.

It represents a drastic turnaround for the 32-year-old who featured in just six of Swansea’s opening 15 league games – only one of which was from the start – under Alan Sheehan from the outset of the 2025-26 season before the Irishman was replaced by Matos.

Having rediscovered his best form, Fulton was keen to acknowledge the impact Matos has had following a difficult spell before the 38-year-old’s appointment.

“I’ve been here a long time now and last season, the start of the season was a frustrating one for me,” Fulton said.

“Since the manager’s come in, I feel as if I’ve brought a bit of form back to myself.

“I think I had a real lack of minutes at the start of last season. I probably couldn’t get my form going at certain points at the start of the season.

“Once the manager came in, he just kind of clicked straight away, and I felt that throughout the season, my form built back up.

“I’ve got a really good relationship with the manager. He’s just instilled confidence back in myself and a bit of belonging again, so I can only thank him for that.”

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