We’ve all read the links to Andrew Fisher, the MK Dons goalkeeper who Russell Martin is keen to see at Swansea City in January. The rumours are true, it’s a fact. However, is Fisher really up to playing at Championship level for the swans ? Let’s take a look.

Wigan born Fisher started out at Blackburn Rovers academy in 2016, but at no point during his four years as a professional did he make a first team start for the club. His only pro appearances came during a loan spell at FC United where he played thirteen games. In those games he conceded twenty four goals. He didn’t do enough to entice them to sign him when he later became a free agent, and further loan spells at Northampton Town and MK Dons saw him make no appearances. After four years up to the age of 21 Fisher was unable to claim any first team appearances in the English football league. It was only when MK Dons came in for him when he was released from Blackburn that his career took an upturn. Last season he played in thirty nine games and conceded 54 goals.

As a very inexperienced keeper his stats aren’t brilliant, but he seems to be on a learning curve developmental wise. He does concede more goals than games he plays in. However, that’s a stat for nearly all goalkeepers, and he has received plaudits for many games this season. It’s how he has developed which is the real stat. His team are currently seventh in league one, but he is yet to keep a clean sheet away from home. Fisher has a skill set that Russell Martin likes, he is calm on the ball, and understands his ex managers ball retention philosophy. He is weak saving shots to his left, and can be accused of being too casual at times on the ball. His handling skills are best described as above average. His shot stopping is exceptional. He will honestly look at the home games against Fleetwood and Rotherham this season where he conceded three goals per game as poor by his standards.

Coming in to Swansea City, if that did happen, and due to the fact he is on a long term contract the swans would be expected to pay around a hundred thousand pounds. He certainly isn’t first team material, and by comparison to Steven Benda doesn’t really look any better to what we have already. Yes, below Benda at Swansea there is little to challenge him. Ben Hamer has shown some frailty in responding to low pacy shots placed either side of him this season, and at thirty four won’t be a first choice for too much longer.

Fisher is a decent signing but surely only as a back up keeper, which in Benda the swans already have. He has little competition at MK Dons, Franco Ravizzoli the clubs second choice keeper is not in any way a rival at this point in time. For us it’s a no, but Russell Martin is very keen at the moment to bring him in to Swansea City. Fisher isn’t the answer to the swans goalkeeping issues at the present time, and to put him in to a championship first eleven could prove extremely risky.

However let’s leave the last word to him, “ I love the pressure and responsibility I have at MK, when I was offered a new long term deal I jumped at it, I want to improve” Dean Thornton, the new swans goalkeeping coach is also a great admirer of Fisher. “Fish is a top, top keeper, amd there’s room for him to go further in his career”

It’s not a case of will the swans sign him, it seems more of a case of when.

Latest stat ** Andy Fisher is a Goalkeeper who has appeared in 14 matches this season in EFL League One, playing a total of 1260 minutes. He concedes an average of 1.29 goals for every 90 minutes that the player is on the pitch. His clean sheets ratio is currently at 21%. That means Andy Fisher has kept a Clean Sheet in 3 matches out of the 14 that the player has played in.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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