Loan stars can cut it at top of game, says Ayew
ANDRE Ayew believes Swansea City duo Rhian Brewster and Conor Gallagher are already capable of plying their trade in the Premier League.
The loan pair have excelled since joining the Swans on temporary deals in January, making 39 league appearances between them.
Brewster’s stunner at Reading took his goal tally to 10 in 20 appearances for the Swans, while Gallagher registered his sixth assist for Steve Cooper’s side when he set up Wayne Routledge for the winger’s second effort at the Madejski Stadium.
And when asked if the pair are ready for the top-flight, Ayew responded: “Quality-wise, yes. They have it in the legs and in the head, they’re ready to go further. I think they’re ready to work hard.
“I think those boys have a great future ahead of them, now it’s up to them to do more, to work more to always, you know, be focused solely on football.
“That’s the most important thing. And I think they have what it takes to play in the Premier League, with Swansea or another team, but I prefer them to do it with this club.
“When you’re young, the most important thing is to have a manager that believes in you and that wants to make you grow. And they’ve caught that with our boss here, Steve Cooper, and I think it’s a big, big plus for them.
“In the situation we were in, a lot of managers I know would have taken off the younger players. But our manager had faith in them.”
Indeed, the two youngsters played under Cooper at youth level with England, with the head coach’s promise of giving the pair regular football being significant influences in the decisions made by Liverpool and Chelsea to send the pair to South Wales in the opening month of 2020.
The duo will have at least two more games at Swansea as they lock horns with Brentford in the semi-finals of the play-offs.
Ayew himself has been a monumental figure for the Swans in their debut campaign under Cooper.
The Ghana international has netted 15 times in the Championship, making him the club’s top scorer since he returned from a season-long loan with Fenerbahce.
And the 30-year-old admits the drama of their 4-1 triumph over Reading coupled with Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Stoke City on the final day of the regular season are moments that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
“I think we’ve recovered from the win and the joy of making the playoffs, but now we need our bodies to recover,” he added.
“In my career I’ve experienced many emotions – good and bad – but nothing like this.
“It was something different and special with a club I have at heart. It’s something unique and everyone will remember the last day of the 2020 season.
“At the end we made it and now everything is just starting. Every team in the play-offs deserves to be there. It’s going to be hard and no-one will know what’s going to happen.
“We will give it everything and we have a good squad with young players that have grown quickly. What’s coming is important. You can’t hide the fact that when you get here, you want to go as far as you can.”