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It seems strange to say this about player who scored six crucial goals in his first 12 league appearances of this season and none in his last 10, but Leroy Fer looks like a player reborn.

Charged with a central role under Paul Clement, the Dutch international has been disciplined and dedicated in his midfield work, helping Swansea to wins over Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester City that have seen Clement's men shoot up the table.

Rather than flitting in and out of games, as he did under Bob Bradley and Francesco Guidolin, Fer is now the cornerstone of a well-drilled Swans midfield.

In the last four games, Fer has been superb. He's not scored, nor added an assist, but he's been a huge asset to the team.

(Image: PA)

These stats show how Clement has got the best out of the flying Dutchman

Against Liverpool

What a win. And while Tom Carroll's incredible (second) debut stole the headlines, Fer's performance went under the radar.

The bustling midfield player was charged with protecting the back four, along with Carroll and Jack Cork. Between the trio, they dispossessed Liverpool players seven times throughout the match and Fer wasn't afraid to put himself about. They shepherded Roberto Firmino and company to the game's periphery.

(Image: PA)

Fer was shown a yellow card in the dying moments, trying to disrupt Liverpool's search for a late leveller.

But Clement will have seen that as a positive, with Fer showing more bite than under Bradley.

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Against Southampton

It was a victory that qualified the previous week's heroics at Anfield. And again, Fer played an outstanding supporting role before his withdrawal on 72 minutes.

He completed 85 passes in that time, while Swansea's top passer Federico Fernandez managed 91 in 90 minutes. Fer also made four tackles and hit a blockbuster effort towards goal on 36 minutes.

Against Man City

It was in the agonising 2-1 defeat to Man City that Fer showed himself to be the powerhouse central midfield Swansea fans always hoped he would be.

He was everywhere. With a greater pass success rate than City wingers Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling and making more tackles than Yaya Toure, it was a performance to remember.

Against Leicester City

Barring Alfie Mawson and his goalscoring exploits , Fer was arguably the standout performer in another solid victory for Clement's revitalised Swansea. Playing further up the field than he did against City and Liverpool, the 27-year-old made two key passes, with a pass success rate of 90 per cent

If you take his performance at the Liberty in comparison to the reverse fixture against Leicester at the King Power Stadium in August — a game in which Fer scored — there is a stark contrast.

(Image: Getty Images)

Fer made fewer passes that day, fewer successful dribbles and fewer tackles. He may have grabbed a late consolation to make the 2-1 scoreline respectable, but his recent exploits prove that goals aren't everything.

Clement is building a team. And this reinvigorated Fer is proving a key cog in Clement's Swansea City project.