Cullen a 'huge part' of Swansea's plans - Sheehan

Liam Cullen's goal at Blackburn was his first since the forward scored against Oxford on the final day of last season

Alan Sheehan says Liam Cullen is a "huge part" of his plans with the Wales forward pushing for a recall when Swansea City face Leicester City on Saturday.

Cullen scored his first goal of the season to give Swansea victory after coming off the bench at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old has had to make do with substitute appearances in the last six weeks, with the in-form Zan Vipotnik and deadline-day signing Adam Idah preferred up front by Sheehan.

Cullen's Blackburn goal came when he was operating in the sort of attacking midfield role he has played for Wales under Craig Bellamy.

And Sheehan says that though academy product Cullen has spent most of his career as a striker, he could now be used more often in a deeper position.

"He's capable - his football brain, his football IQ is exceptional," the Swansea head coach said.

"The other night he came on in the left eight, where he has played for Wales and done really well.

"And he is wonderful at arriving in those places. It probably gives us something different to other personnel right now in those areas in terms of that attacking instinct. So it's something to look at."

Zan Vipotnik is Swansea's top scorer this season with six goals

Cullen, Swansea's 12-goal top scorer last season, began this campaign as the Welsh club's first choice up front.

He started the first three league games of 2025-26 at centre-forward, but has not made Sheehan's starting XI since the draw with Watford on 23 August.

Since then, Vipotnik has produced a sparkling run of form, while Idah arrived from Celtic in a deal worth an initial £6m.

But Sheehan says Cullen will get his share of game time as the season progresses.

"If you look at the quantity of games I've had, the percentage of how many games Liam Cullen has been involved in tells you exactly what I think of Liam Cullen," Sheehan added.

"In his last two games, he's come on and made a massive impact. He shows up every day, trains properly. He's great for the culture.

"It's not like he's not involved or anything. Just because he's had a couple of games here where he's come out... there will be a lot of games where he's involved."

Swansea, who are eighth in the early-season Championship table, have no fresh injury concerns as they prepare to face sixth-placed Leicester, who have lost only one game so far this season but have drawn their previous four.

The Swans have been beaten only once on their ground since Sheehan took charge back in February, but are chasing just a second home league win of this campaign having drawn the previous three.