U23s star Sam aiming to make up for lost time

SWANS under-23s starlet Sam Leverett admits he’s keen to make up for lost time after his seven-week lay-off with a broken finger.

The midfielder signed from Leeds United back in the summer and managed to bank 87 minutes of valuable game-time under his belt in the 3-1 defeat to South Wales rivals Cardiff City in Landore on Monday.

It was unbeaten Cardiff’s eighth straight victory in the Professional Development League 2 and they sit comfortably at the top of the table.

And he insists he’s ready to make an impact and impress under-23s boss Kris O’leary.

“I’ve been out for seven weeks so to be back and start playing again is brilliant,” he said.

“The injury itself was a broken finger so it’s probably the most frustrating injury I’ve ever had – I could run, I could play but I just couldn’t have contact, so it was really frustrating.

“I’ve been involved with the analysis and the training sessions, whether I was non-contact or just watching.

“It gave me a chance to really understand the way we play so that I was ready to come back straightaway and follow the process that the rest of the under-23s have gone through.

“It has allowed me to get my fitness up and I’ve come back and I’m feeling better than I did before. It’s been a long process but I’m back playing now, so that’s good.”

Meanwhile, former Swansea loanee Jordan Morris took to the field for the first time in eight months for the Seattle Sounders on Monday night.

The 27-year-old saw his loan spell at Swansea cut short in brutal circumstances after suffering an ACL injury against Huddersfield earlier this year.

His rehabilitation has seen him recover ahead of schedule, and he came off the bench during the Sounders’ 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy at Lumen Field.

“It feels great,” he said. “It’s been a long process, a long year. It’s been almost two years since I’ve played in front of fans, so that was a special moment. I’m grateful to be back playing with the team. It’s obviously not the result we wanted, but we’ve got to push forward.

“We’re super lucky here with the fan base that we have. That’s the moment you think about when you go through a long recovery, that moment where you’re stepping back out on the field and hearing the fans and getting to play again. Definitely some chills and goosebumps going on to the field.”