Cooper was the key to me joining the Swans – Brewster
RHIAN Brewster says the faith Steve Cooper showed in him was a key influence in his decision to join Swansea City over other Championship clubs last term.
The forward made the temporary move to South Wales from Liverpool in January and played a key part in getting Swansea into the play-offs, scoring 11 goals in his 22 appearances for the club.
And Brewster has revealed Swansea head coach Cooper’s knowledge of his talents were vital in ensuring his loan spell was a roaring success.
“Playing under him in the Under-17s World Cup with England, that helped me a lot,” he told The Beautiful Game Podcast.
“If you’ve played with someone and they know you and trust you, it’ll help further on down the line.
“It all worked out that he played the philosophy he plays, and it fits the DNA of Liverpool and myself.
“It’s like I killed two birds with one stone. He knows I’m always going to work hard for the team and put the team first. He knows that from England.”
Brewster is currently training with Liverpool in Austria ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp was eager to cast his eye over the 20-year-old before determining the next move for the young Englishman, with Swansea desperate to see Brewster return to the Liberty Stadium next term.
The striker himself has admitted he’s keen to remain at Anfield, although such is his positive attitude and mindset, Brewster is willing to secure another loan move away from Merseyside if it would be best for his career.
And the frontman believes that despite shining for Swansea – he could have added more goals to his game during his time in South Wales.
“For me, personally, I scored 11 goals in 22 games, but I actually missed some opportunities that I felt I should have scored,” he added.
“When I look at it like that, I maybe should have come away with 15 goals which would have been a lot better. Eleven goals in 22 games is very good, but I missed quite a few chances that I’d normally put away, and for some reason I didn’t.
“I remember one against Birmingham when it was near the end and my body was destroyed. I was so tired. I tried to chip the ‘keeper, but I should’ve gone round him and put it in the back of the net. Stuff like that, there’s a few other chances I can remember that I felt I should have done better with.”
Brewster bagged his first goal for the Swans in a 2-1 win over Wigan in January and completed his stint with the club by netting in the play-off semi-final loss to Brentford at Griffin Park.
But the England youth international says his strike in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest was the favourite of his stint with Swansea, adding that he is hugely grateful to those at the club who helped to make his loan so successful.
“I think my goal against Nottingham Forest,” said Brewster when asked to choose his favourite Swans strike.
“The first goal for Swansea (against Wigan) was a good goal, because it was a good team goal. It’s not like I scored pretty much the same goals, I scored all types of goals. But the one that stands out is the left-footed one against Nottingham Forest, and of course the one against Reading.
“It’s been an eventful time at Swansea, with Covid-19 hitting, with no fans and stuff like that, it’s been weird. Playing the play-off games with no fans, maybe the fans might have made a big difference in how it might have turned out.
“It’s been very good, and I can’t lie, I’ve enjoyed it so much.
“I’ve enjoyed playing there, I’ve enjoyed the fans, my team mates, the staff and everybody in Swansea. I’ve not got a bad thing to say about them.”