Tony Mowbray believes John Swift can play a key role in Albion’s play-off tilt despite an uncertain future – and has given a hint on Kyle Bartley extending his Baggies stay.
Attacking midfielder Swift and centre-back Bartley are two of a handful of senior players whose terms at The Hawthorns expire this summer, with Grady Diangana and Semi Ajayi in the same position.
Swift, who is 30 in June, has struggled for regular game time and was reportedly close to a move to Championship rivals Derby County at the end of the recent transfer window. Boss Mowbray said, regardless of the attacker having a Baggies future, he can be key in the here and now.
Asked about out of contract players being at different stages of their careers, Mowbray said: “Yeah and I’ve had this conversation – while we are being competitive at the top end of the league with an opportunity in front of us, we have to utilise all of the resources at this club.
“As I’ve said to you John Swift is an amazing footballer, when he’s got the ball at his feet he can do wonderful things. He can see short passes, long passes, manipulate it out of trouble brilliantly well. I think we have to utilise that.
“If he’s not going to be here next year, if for instance we are not in the picture and we’ve dropped away for whatever reason, my job would be to prepare a team or look at options for next season rather than chasing a win that won’t help us too much. Let’s hope that’s not the scenario.
“I have to pick a team that I feel is the best team with the players available to us at the time. I have to assess their mental state. That’s why I appeal to all those out of contract players to keep giving their best everyday in training, it only benefits them because if they’re in the team and doing well they might have more choices in the summer. We might be one of those choices.”
Swift has started just 15 of 35 league games this season after injury ravaged much of the previous campaign. The 2022 free transfer signing from Reading is believed to be a big earner in Albion’s squad.
Bartley, who turns 34 in May, agreed a new one-year contract on significantly reduced terms last summer with an appearance-related clause to trigger an extra season beyond this summer.
Mowbray insisted he is not interested in how many games Bartley needs to play to trigger that deal but is a huge fan of the dominant defender, who he believes is an important squad member. Bartley has played 21 times this term.
He added: “When I’m picking the team at this moment Kyle Bartley gets in the team, as long as he’s fit and available. He gets in because he’s a leader, he has a voice, already he understands how we want to play.
“Age – my best football was between 33 and 36, I felt, as a central defender. I felt I understood the game, had the knowledge to know when to be really aggressive or play loose off the strikers. I knew when to hold the line or drop off early. Experience makes you a better footballer.
“I had this at my previous club, we kept signing 18 and 19-year-olds, yet sometimes you have to sign a 28-year-old to help those young players in the team.
“In my mind Kyle Bartley is an important footballer for the club. I sit here hoping he has a lot of football left in him this season, if that triggers or doesn’t trigger something I still think there’s conversations to be had. This club has had to readjust its outlook on salaries and wages.”
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