Cullen ready for key month with Swansea and Wales

Swansea and Wales forward Liam Cullen is desperate to keep playing his part, whatever the role, in a big month for both club and country.

The 26-year-old will feature for the Swans when they finish a block of Championship games with trips to Portsmouth on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) and Wrexham on Friday (20:00 GMT).

Cullen is then set to link up with Wales as they attempt to earn a spot at this summer’s World Cup.

Craig Bellamy’s side welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to Cardiff in the play-offs on Thursday, 26 March with the winners hosting either Italy or Northern Ireland.

The Swans could be outsiders for the play-offs if they have a good week and that is the forward’s focus, even if he admits it is tough to put the international challenge completely out of his mind.

“It’s a really big month,” said Cullen.

“We’ve got a couple more games to concentrate on with Swansea and want to push up the table by picking up as many points as we can.

“It is full focus on that but with the games being so big at the end of the month, you can’t help but think about them.”

Cullen, who started in November’s 7-1 win against North Macedonia added: “It’s a case of staying as fit as I can and being ready to go into that camp as fresh as possible.

“That week will be all about everyone doing what they can to help the team and country get over the line.”

A hit from the halfway line

Liam Cullen scored his fifth goal of the season from close to halfway against Stoke [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

It has been a similar mantra at the Swans for Cullen, who has made an impact off the bench in recent weeks.

The forward from Pembrokeshire earned a share of the spoils against Preston last month with a header from six yards and sealed the win against Stoke on Saturday with a superb lob from 50.

After intercepting a loose pass with his right foot, the Wales international used his left to perfection to drive a shot over goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.

“Once it came to me, there was only really one thing in my mind,” said Cullen. “It was out of my feet nicely and I was always going to hit it.

“I had 15,000 fans and the other lads shouting to shoot, so I just knew that I had to get a clean connection.

“I did and it seemed to take forever to go in. It was a lifetime waiting for it to drop in and it was a really nice feeling when it did.

“It was a little bit like a long, driven pass. I just knew I had to put my foot through it and connect well.”

Cullen scored the only goal of the game against Portsmouth in December, once again after coming off the bench, and will hope to have forced his way into the starting line-up for Fratton Park.

However, he is happy to put everything into whatever role he is given by boss Vitor Matos.

“Everyone wants to play, don’t they? So when you’re not playing you are frustrated but you’ve got to channel that in the right direction,” said Cullen, last season’s top scorer with 12 goals.

“Having the experience that I have now, if I’m not in the team I’ll be frustrated but I’ll give everything to the lads that are starting, helping them prepare and encouraging them.

“When I come on the pitch I’ve just got to try and show my quality and impact the game.”

Cullen also believes that the Swans have the depth to cope with a testing schedule in the run-in as they bid to improve on last season’s 11th-placed finish.

“All the successful teams have a squad that’s willing to compete and help each other and everyone chips in at different times,” he said.

“We have a bigger squad than over the last few years.”

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