Can Alfie Mawson rejuvenate his career and guide Bristol City to glory?

When the name Alfie Mawson springs to mind, I am immediately transported back to his consistently accomplished performances whilst at then Premier League outfit, Swansea City.

Plucked from Oakwell, where he had been plying his trade for Barnsley in the second tier of the English football pyramid, the Championship; he adapted seamlessly, unphased by the prospect of testing his wits against some of Europe’s most lethal forwards.

His displays in South Wales were garnering serious attention. Mawson was regularly linked to clubs of a higher stature, including Spurs and in addition, he received international recognition, Southgate selecting the imposing Centre Back to feature in his Three Lions squad ahead of pre-World Cup 2018 friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy.

Possessing aerial grace, along with natural comfort as a ball-playing defender, these combined attributes made it inherently obvious as to why he was drawing interest from clubs higher up the footballing ladder.

Following The Swans’ demotion from the Premier League and its vast riches in 2018, City, perhaps attempting to balance the books, opted to offload Mawson. Fulham capitalised on the opportunity to secure his services, Mawson putting pen to paper, agreeing a four-year deal at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers, splashing the cash in hope of retaining their status in English football’s supreme division, undoubtedly viewed Mawson as an integral piece in the jigsaw.

However, regularly hampered by injury, he was limited to just 15 appearances during his first season with The Whites, 27 in the following campaign. Mawson has endured surgery on his knee on two separate occasions, with the ailment, unfortunately, refusing to relent.

Prior to the commencement of the 2020/21 season, Fulham, unwilling to invest further faith in the Englishman, decided to loan him out to Championship side, Bristol City.

He made a blistering start, playing a pivotal role in four consecutive victories, also honoured in being named captain after just two appearances.

Devastatingly, that promise was short-lived, injury cruelly striking once again. He was stretchered off during a clash with Middlesbrough, and subsequently, has only managed to appear for The Robins on seven occasions thus far.

Mawson is one of those players that as a fan, you desperately long for to thrive. Starting out at Brentford, he never made a senior appearance for The Bees, instead, subjected to several obscure loan moves; taking in multiple spells at Maidenhead United, whilst also featuring for Luton Town, Welling United and Wycombe Wanderers.

To his credit, he refused to become discouraged, continuing to graft, performing admirably in 46 outings for Wycombe, deservedly earning the accolade of League Two Player of the Year.

That spell lured the interest of Barnsley, his career’s upward trajectory continuing emphatically, ultimately resulting in Mawson progressing into an established Premier League player.

After ten weeks out due to the aforementioned knee injury, Mawson returned to action for The Robins in the FA Cup victory over Portsmouth, an invaluable 60 minutes under his belt during that affair.

Having worked off some of the rust, Mawson resumed league play on Saturday, impressively marshalling his fellow defenders to a fifth home clean sheet in the 2-0 triumph over Preston North End.

As it stands, Mawson is due to return to Craven Cottage upon the climax of this season, however, he spoke glowingly of his time as part of Dean Holden’s side to Bristol Live, seemingly open to prolonging his spell in the South West:

“I’ve been asked this a few times. Listen, I’ve enjoyed my time here massively and I’ve only played seven times but I can certainly see myself enjoying a lot more football here.

“Whether that’s just until the end of the season or whether that’s beyond that that’s a discussion that will take place later at a different stage – if it is to take place.”

Still only 27, providing he can remain healthy, Ashton Gate could well provide an ideal platform for him to rejuvenate his career, which has succumbed to significant stagnation in recent seasons.

However Mawson’s future ultimately pans out, the relationship between him and the club certainly has the potential for a match made in heaven, with the defender seeking to prove he still has what it takes, and The Robins aiming to bolster their promotion credentials.

City remain in play-off contention, currently residing in ninth position, a mere six points shy of third place Bournemouth. It goes without saying that, if the club are to reach the promised land, an injury free Alfie Mawson may go a long way in delivering Premier League football to the red half of Bristol for the first time in the club’s history.

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