Gower delighted with Swansea return

Swansea City’s Mark Gower says his first league start of 2012 was worth the wait despite it coming in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United.

The 33-year-old had failed to start for Swansea since the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the Liberty Stadium on New Year’s Eve but returned due to an injury to Leon Britton.

And Gower was delighted to make his comeback for Brendan Rodgers’ side, playing 45 minutes before being replaced at the half-time break.

Gower told the club’s official website: “Leon was suffering with his knee a little bit so the gaffer gave me the nod.

“I hadn’t started since the Spurs game as the lads have done well. It’s been hard because I want to be out on the pitch playing,

“If you’re going to play for the first time in three months then Old Trafford is not a bad place to do it. I thought I equipped myself well and slotted in smoothly enough.”

Gower also said the Welsh outfit can take a lot of positives from their defeat to the defending champions.

“I thought we equipped ourselves quite well,” he added.

“With Manchester City winning earlier in the day I think United knew if they could get a few early goals then they could cut the gap at the top.

“I thought Gylfi (Sigurdsson) got behind the midfield a few times in the first half but maybe we just didn’t have the killer touch against a defence as good as Manchester United’s.

“In the second half we limited their chances and if we’d have found the killer touch then we’d probably have found a goal.

“So we can take a few things from this game as we look towards the final game of the season against Liverpool.”