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It may have been all smiles for Swansea City's majority shareholders at the Liberty as they witnessed their first win since completing their buy-in this summer.

But that doesn't mean they won't have been aware of the desperate need for them to free up funds this coming transfer window.

Handily for those waiting to see if the cash can come to help save the Swans' season, Gylfi Sigurdsson underlined what can happen when you put money where your mouth is.

Among the ire of players not being signed or signing for others this summer, the backing to provide Sigurdsson with a new deal when there were those willing to part with £25m is in danger of being overlooked.

This game was further evidence what can happen when quality is clung to, Sigurdsson proving yet again that class was worth the cost of his bumper four-year contract.

Aside from the coolness of his penalty finish befitting a man from the frozen north, the 27-year-old was once more the beacon of hope for Swansea. While the performances of Angel Rangel, Neil Taylor, Leon Britton and Jay Fulton all helped contribute to a performance far more worthy of the shirt, you still need a matchwinner. Even with Fernando Llorente's brace, Sigurdsson was once again the man to make the difference.

He has been all year. He was one of they key men that rolled up his sleeves from Janaury onwards last term, his nine goals from the 14 games between New Year and the win over Chelsea to take the side to 40 points a bigger factor than anything else in survival last time around.

He's starting this season where he finished off. It is now five goals and five assists for Sigurdsson, a direct involvement in more than half of Swansea's 19 Premier League goals.

Only a handful of players have had greater contributions, none being in the trouble Swansea have faced.

Before Sunday's fixtures, only Romelu Lukaku (Nine goals, three assists), Diego Costa (11 and five) and Alexis Sanchez (11 and five) have had a hand in more of their team's goals.

In terms of assists alone, only Wilfried Zaha, Nemanja Matic (both six) and Kevin de Bruyne (seven) have been better.

All that, and it doesn't include his decisive involvement in all five of those goals against Palace because of a deflection or extra touch along the way.

It shouldn't be of any surprise. Since he signed permanently, he has 23 goals and 17 assists to his name – 37.7% of Swansea's 106 Premier League goals.

But there is more to him than just numbers. His work-rate his superb, one of those setting tempo and standards in this win, helping create six chances – more than any Swansea player has done in a home fixture in the Premier League.

Squeezed out of the centre by Sunderland, he was intelligent enough to float wide, knowing he could find the ball there and still influence things.

Back at No.10, there can no longer be any doubt in Bob Bradley's mind where he needs to deploy him, especially when there are now signs of a growing understanding between himself and Llorente that echoed the relationship he had with Wilfried Bony.

To underline it, only Sanchez teeing up Mesut Ozil at Arsenal have combined more than the Iceman and the World Cup winner this season.

“Gylfi's been very good throughout the season,” reflected Bradley. “I look at the eight matches since I arrived, he's had a hand in so many goals. He's mobile, he has his eye for passes, his set-piece work. He's an important part of our attacking play, but he also doesn't get enough credit for the defensive work he does. Even when he plays behind the striker, he still comes back, closes down the deep-layer for the other team, steps up to puts pressure on centre defenders.

“His contribution has been immense.”

No-one would disagree as Sigurdsson offered proof of what can happen when money is well spent.