Britton thanks his lucky stars

Swansea midfielder Leon Britton knows how fortunate he is to be preparing for his Premier League debut – because he could easily have been starting the current campaign in League One.

The 28-year-old West Ham academy graduate has been a fans favourite since starting his first spell with the Swans eight years ago, and has made over 300 appearances for the club.

He is set to feature in Monday night’s top-flight opener at Manchester City just over a year after he left the club to join Sheffield United, having become disgruntled under former boss Paulo Sousa.

Britton played under four managers in just five months at Bramall Lane as the Blades struggled, and quickly realised he had made a mistake in leaving south Wales.

He returned to the Liberty Stadium in January and went on to help the club secure play-off glory, scoring in the second leg of the semi-final win against Nottingham Forest, while Sheffield United dropped out of the second tier.

“I am lucky there is no doubt,” he said. “I could have been lining up at Oldham away on Saturday for Sheffield United in League One, instead I am kicking off my season a week later away at Manchester City, live on Sky in the Premier League.

“I am fortunate to be here and I thank the board and the manager. They could have been funny about it, I had left just six months earlier, and said ‘your ship has sailed, it’s too late’ but they were willing to take me back and I just want to repay the faith.”

Britton might have expected to have already spent several seasons in the top flight given the pedigree he showed as a teenager.

West Ham paid Arsenal a £400,000 fee to bring him to Upton Park as a 16-year-old, but he did not get the chance to follow the likes of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole into the Hammers first team.

Having joined Swansea while they were in League Two, Britton had few expectations the club would embark on anything like the startling rise they have experienced.

The midfielder, Garry Monk and Alan Tate are about to become the only players in the current squad to have featured in all four divisions for the Swans and looking back to his arrival in south Wales, Britton said: “When I joined Swansea were in League Two, I would never have dreamed I would play for Swansea in the Premier League.

“I just wanted to play football and get to as high a level as quick as I could, but as it turned out I liked Swansea and the club have progressed year on year and I feel I have got better as a player, it has gone hand in hand.

“I’m delighted that when I make my Premier League debut it will be with the the Swans and not anyone else.

“I always wanted to get back to that level, it seemed a long way away at the time and it’s doubly special to do it with Swansea as I have a good rapport with the club.”

And with his Premier League bow almost upon him Britton says the excitement around the club and the city is reaching fever pitch.

He said: “Since the Reading game we had great celebrations in the days after, but since the fixtures came out we were just waiting to be back in training.

“The squad looks good and feels good and we are excited to be going into this big game.

“The beginning of the season is going to bring a great excitement, there has been a massive buzz around the town.

“You go to a press conference and there are a lot more people about and a lot more attention on the Swans.

“Every game will be special as this is where you want to be and where the club wants to be and we need to make sure we enjoy every moment.”

Source: http://www.itv.com/sport/football/news/britton-thanks-his-lucky-stars-88739/