Connor is closing in on milestone at the Swans

CONNOR Roberts is hoping to pass a significant career milestone before the end of the season.

The right-back needs to make just eight appearances between now and the end of the campaign to make it a century of games in Swansea City colours.

It is some achievement for a player who had yet to make his debut for the first team by the time 2017 was drawing to a close.

That wait came to an end just days later when Carlos Carvalhal selected him for an FA Cup tie at Wolves.

That game ended 0-0 – and Roberts was on his way.

He made 10 further appearances that term, though the season would ultimately end in huge disappointment as Swansea’s stay in the Premier League came to an end, with relegation confirmed on the final day when Stoke claimed a 2-1 win at the Liberty Stadium.

But even in a side struggling for form and points, Roberts had made his presence felt.

The following season – with Graham Potter at the helm – Roberts had made the spot on the right side of Swansea’s defence his own.

He made 49 appearances that term, though a push for a playoff berth fell just short.

But there was the not insignificant achievement of nailing down the right-back spot in the Wales team – plus the bonus of a goal against Ireland – and helping Ryan Giggs’ team qualify for the European Championships.

That will have to wait for next year. The immediate aim is to hunt down a Championship play-off spot in the remaining weeks of a season which has been halted for three months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And Roberts, who has played 32 games this season under head coach Steve Cooper, is set to play a crucial role.

“When I was a little boy I just wanted to play one game for Swansea City. That was it. Now I’m approaching 100,” he told the club website.

“After that game at Wolves I was thinking it would be nice to play a few more games and maybe score a goal.

“I had never thought of playing for Wales until I got the call up for the China Cup.

“I was on the bench but didn’t play in the first game, which I thought was fair enough. Then, in the second game, the manager said I was going on against Uruguay and that was great.

“Then I get my full debut against Ireland and somehow I scored with my left foot.”