FOOTBALL’S BACK UP AND RUNNING
NOW IT’S OVER TO YOU, BLUEBIRDS & SWANS:
STEVE Cooper will name 20-man squads for each of Swansea City’s remaining nine Championship fixtures of the 2019/20 campaign.
It comes after FIFA and the EFL announced a rule change which allows teams to make five in-game substitutes from here on in, two more than usual.
Given that clubs face congested schedules as they bid to complete the protracted campaign, there were concerns that injuries and fatigue could become a significant problem over the coming weeks.
And it means teams will now have nine men available on the bench to select from when it comes to making alterations compared with the usual figure of seven.
As such, fringe players could be given the chance to impress over the remaining weeks of the season while academy products may also get the chance to shine.
Swansea already have a significant number of home grown stars in their first team squad, but it seems two more young guns are pushing to make the step up.
Tivonge Rushesha and Oli Cooper both featured for the Swans in the recent behind-closed-doors meetings with South Wales rivals Cardiff City.
The clubs faced off in two 80-minute matches at Cardiff City Stadium, with the first game ending goalless while the second was a 1-1 draw.
The fixtures gave both clubs the opportunity to gain some much needed match fitness while also giving the managers the chance to ramp up their preparations ahead of the second tier’s restart this weekend.
It’s understood Cooper fully utilised the club’s academy for the fixtures with the Bluebirds, with his teams for the two games featuring a strong blend of youth and experience.
And it’s fair to say coaches were impressed with the efforts of Rushesha and Oli Cooper.
Fans have already had a glimpse of Zimbabwe-born defender Rushesha after he was given his first team bow by Cooper in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Rushesha replaced Kyle Naughton in the 67th minute of the Swans’ 6-0 demolition job of Cambridge United in the second round of the competition back in August.
He signed a new contract with the club in January, and it seems 17-year-old Rushesha could be the next star off the Swans’ famed production line.
As for Oli Cooper, he stole the headlines when he notched a hat-trick in the Under-23 side’s emphatic 5-1 win over Porto in the Premier League International Cup earlier this season.
The attacking midfielder is yet to play for the first team, although his efforts at age grade level were rewarded in February last year as he signed a contract to remain at SA1 until the summer of 2021.
A club source who was present at the recent double header with the Bluebirds has revealed Rushesha and Oli Cooper both caught the eye of the coaches. on duty
And it could well be that the pair get the chance to feature in a matchday squad before the end of the regular season.
In addition to Rushesha, Steve Cooper has given a raft of academy players their senior bows this term.
Jack Evans, Kees de Boer, Jordon Garrick, Ben Cabango and Liam Cullen have all had minutes with the first team this season as Cooper – who won the Under17s World Cup with England three years ago – continues to put his faith in young talent.