Melker Widell has not spoken to Graham Potter, but there is a hotline between the Sweden head coach and Swansea City's training ground.

Widell has been capped once by Sweden, in March 2025, when Jon Dahl Tomasson was at the helm.

But since former Swans head coach Potter took charge of the country last October, there has been no international call-up for Widell.

The feeling at Swansea is that the midfielder's form warrants attention.

Potter knows as much thanks to contact from Swansea's long-serving kit men, Michael Eames and Shaun Baggridge, who have been highlighting Widell's attributes to their old boss.

"I know that he was here before and they were they were here then as well," Widell says with a smile.

"They have spoken to him more than I have. I hope they say that [I should be picked]. I hope that if he does call them that they give good words!"

Widell is quick to point out that Sweden have a "really competitive squad".

Strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres are the star names, but there are numerous others who are playing at top-level European clubs.

"I was happy to see us go to the World Cup and I know that they have their eyes on all of the players that are doing well," Widell says.

"As long as I'm doing my part, then I'm sure more opportunities will come. I'm hopeful that if we [at Swansea] can keep going like this, it will come."

'The ticket to play is the counter-press'

For all his support in the Swansea kit room, what Widell really needs to capture Potter's attention is to be playing Premier League football.

Widell's journey so far has seen him play in the Danish top flight, for Aab Aalborg, who he joined in 2023 having come through the academy of Swedish heavyweights Malmo.

Having signed for Swansea in January 2025, Widell returned to Aalborg on loan before linking up with the Championship club last summer.

After a difficult start to life in Wales, when he did not even make the bench at times under Alan Sheehan, Widell has flourished following the appointment of Vitor Matos last November.

"Ever since the gaffer came in really last season, I felt like I've been taking steps," Widell says.

While he is most at home in central midfield, Widell has been used on a number of occasions out wide and even as a false nine.

Wherever he lines up, Swansea know the 24-year-old can be relied on to put in a shift, hence Matos is a big fan.

"The ticket to play here is doing the counter-press," Widell says.

"If you do the counter-press well, then you will get some minutes. That's a really easy thing to grasp as a player, because that has only to do with your head.

"You can have a day off on your technique and maybe the passes are not there, the shots are not there, but you can always do your work for the team."

Widell reached 50 league appearances for Swansea when he came off the bench in last weekend's defeat to West Ham United.

When Widell makes Matos' starting XI, Swansea tend to do well.

Widell has started 21 Championship games under the Portuguese, with Swansea winning 14 and losing only three of those matches – against Southampton, Coventry City and Ipswich Town.

Even if Widell begins on the bench, he nearly always plays a part, with Matos a head coach who relies heavily on substitutes.

Part of the reason for Swansea's success so far this season is that when Matos does turn to the bench, he sees options which are as strong as those in his starting side.

"I think one of the biggest differences this year compared to last year is that we have such depth in the squad," Widell says.

"The team that starts one week won't start the other week and the level of quality of performance will be almost the same, so that's a real testament to the club's ambitions for us."

QPR win would be 'a really good answer'

Despite defeat against the Hammers, Swansea remain top of the table as they prepare for Saturday's meeting with Queens Park Rangers.

They go to Loftus Road intent on delivering a response following only a second league loss this season and a first on their own ground.

Matos, who is not one for bold predictions, drums into his players the need to focus only on their next fixture rather than the ultimate goal which is promotion to the top flight.

Nevertheless, Widell acknowledges that Swansea's performances so far have given players a feeling that they "can have something to say" in the promotion race this season.

"Every player in the world wants to play in the best league, the best league is the Premier League and that's the beauty of being in the Championship, that you're only one step away," he adds.

"But of course you have to be consistent over such a long time and so many games [to win promotion].

"If we can bounce back against QPR that will be another answer to our questions that we have in our minds - OK, we lost against West Ham, that was a bit of a blow, can we go and pick up another three points? That would be a really good answer."

Certainly, a fifth away victory in six attempts this season would be another very promising sign for Matos' Swansea.

It might also prompt another notification on Potter's phone.