Swans new boy Welsh ready to step up

[Rex Features] Defender Stephen Welsh is ready to hit the ground running for Swansea City in the Championship after Cameron Burgess' injury blow. The Swans get their league campaign under way with a trip to Stoke on Saturday (15:00 BST). Welsh will hope to make his club debut after he was an unused substitute in last weekend's 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Birmingham. Vitor Matos had made all five of his allowed changes by the time that Burgess landed awkwardly, with a scan confirming that the Australia centre-back had ruptured his right Achilles. His misfortune opens up a spot next to Ben Cabango, with Welsh aiming to grasp his chance if he gets the nod. "When I signed I was ready to come in and play," said the former Celtic defender. "I have come in with a winning mentality from where I am from, it's all about winning and performing. This is a great opportunity to start well. "I personally want to play as many games as possible and know how challenging the Championship schedule can be with games coming thick and fast." Welsh spent last season on loan at Motherwell and mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his Celtic contract in the summer. It did not take long to secure his next destination. "Within a few hours Swansea were on the phone," said the 26-year-old. "That was the main reason that I wanted to come down, how quickly they acted. "Within a day I was on the phone to Vitor Matos, with him telling me about the club and what he wants to do this season, how he sees his back four working and what he wants from me personally. "The way he spoke about the team was very positive, so within a few days I was signed and ready to go."