SWANS LOANEE FREDDIE SEES THE BENEFITS
FREDDIE Woodman admits the Championship is “a whole new ball game” compared to his previous loan spells.
The 22-year-old, who is enjoying a season-long loan at Swansea from Newcastle, had kept five clean sheets going into yesterday’s game at Sheffield Wednesday and made an impressive penalty save at Derby County, too.
The youngster spent time in League Two with Hartlepool and Crawley and the Scottish Premiership at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, but he feels regular second-tier football is a big step forward in his career.
“I got games in League Two and in Scotland, but the Championship is a whole new ball game,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying it. You come up against teams every week who are giving you a different challenge.
“I feel I am getting better and learning something every week. It’s brilliant for my development and I hope it is also helping Swansea because of the faith they have shown in me.
“I am delighted with how things are going. Our defensive performances have been good. I think I’ve developed a good relationship with the players – the back four especially.
“It was important that I understood what type of players they are and for them to understand the type of goalkeeper I am.”
Meanwhile, the Swans were dealt an injury blow this week after winger Jordan Garrick, 21, was ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Head coach Steve Cooper said: “It was a training ground muscle injury, and when the scan results came back we were all surprised. It’s a tendon in the hamstring I think.
“But it happens in professional football. It has come at the wrong time for him, not that there is a right time, but he is an upbeat lad.”