Gower: I Don't Want To Warm Bench At Swansea City

Mark Gower says he's working hard to earn himself a regular first team place in Michael Laudrup's side next season, as he doesn't want to continue sitting on a bench late on in his career.

With such a competitive midfield at the club, the former Southend United player struggled to get a regular run in the team last season, managing just 7 Premier League starts.

It may be a coincidence, but Laudrup seems to like players aged around 25, judging from his three signings so far, and with Gower aged 33, he may struggle to compete with the likes of de Guzman and Michu. However, the Swans boss has promised to give every player a chance to prove themselves.

Gower has admitted that he doesn't want to sit on a bench for another season, and if he does, he'll want to play games elsewhere considering that the end of his career is becoming ever closer.

"It`s going to be difficult for me,"

"We`ve got a lot of midfielders — we have a lot who played very well last year and we have added one or two in that area.

"All I can do is keep my head down and keeping working hard, if my chance comes then I have to be ready.

"I`d like to stay, but I`m coming towards the end of my career and I don`t want to be warming anyone`s bench.

"I want to be playing while I still can so we will have to wait and see.

"I`m still working hard in training and I feel fit enough."

Gower hopes to have a 'clean slate' under new manager Michael Laudrup, adding:

"Everyone`s got a clean slate so it`s a chance to impress — I don`t think the manager knows too much about the boys,"

"I`m sure we`ll get to know each other over the next few weeks.

"There are quite a few senior boys here who have done a lot for the club over the years so I am sure once he gets to grips with things he will talk to each of us.

"Whether you are 18 or 33, when a new manager comes in it`s a clean slate and you need to prove yourself all over again.

Despite his lack of games last season, Gower was the most creative midfielder in Europe at one point according to the stats thanks to his excellent assists to games ratio, and he'll hope that'll mean something when Laudrup assesses his squad this Summer ahead of the new 2012/13 campaign.

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