Just over three years ago, Brandon Cooper would embark on his first loan spell away from Swansea City – joining National League side Yeovil Town.
Fast forward to the present day, and Cooper yet again finds himself away from SA1 on loan – this time at a level which he hasn’t experienced, with League One side Forest Green Rovers.
Since making his first-team debut for Swansea in the EFL Cup against Crystal Palace, the 23-year-old has had to watch fellow academy graduates Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper all cement their place in Swansea’s squad.
Now he’s found himself in Nailsworth under the tutelage of Everton legend Duncan Ferguson, who was appointed as manager in January following the sacking of Ian Burchnall.
While some of his Swansea team-mates have recently been away on international duty with Wales, Cooper put in an inspired performance in front of the Sky cameras as Rovers claimed an unlikely 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing as much as I have in the time that I’ve been at the club so far,” he explained.
“I love to play every minute of every game, and after playing under Dunc, I feel that I’ve learnt a lot as well.”
Ferguson has previously managed Everton on two occasions as caretaker manager but also worked under Carlo Ancelotti during his time with the Toffees.
“He’s obviously managed and coached at a top level, but it’s just the experience he has with the top players," Cooper added.
“On a personal level he’s shown me what the best players do and what I need to do to get to that level, and it’s nothing that I can’t do. It’s just about consistently doing it and learning from every game. I think that’s the main thing.”
Cooper admitted that things didn’t go the way that he wanted them to in the summer window but is confident that he’s currently in the right place for his development.
“The first half of the season, I wanted to go on loan, but the opportunity didn’t come up for me to go," he explained.
“Coming into January this time I wanted to go again, and Forest Green came in with a strong offer that Swansea wanted to take financially - they made it happen relatively straight away.
“I just wanted to get it done as soon as possible so that I could play football because I hadn’t played at all in the first half of the season. The main thing for me was getting out and playing football and at a good standard in League One.
“I’m playing against good players, going to some big grounds and I’ve been able to hold my own and been playing well in these games.”
By his own admission, Cooper explained that the loan spell has helped his development as a player, with previous loan spells at Newport County and Swindon Town ultimately being derailed by injuries.
“I’m learning so much more from playing every week, and it’s only going to help me going back to Swansea in the summer," he added.
“I already thought I was in a good position at Swansea, so it is only going to put me in an even better position to go and get in that team because I know that I can.”
Having been at the club since the age of six, it is no surprise that he speaks so candidly about his ambitions to cement a first-team place at his parent club.
“The aim is to go back there after I’ve played as many games as possible here to go back and be able to force my way into the team," he said.
While the defender isn’t one to complain about a lack of opportunities, he did reveal that some of his team-mates at Swansea questioned his playing situation at the club.
“I do believe that I’m good enough, and I think a lot of the boys who I’ve played with at Swansea believe the same thing," he said.
“They sometimes think well, 'why is he not getting the chance?'
“I truly believe that I can go and do it so it’s just up to me. It’s not on anyone else, it’s just up to me, and I can’t blame anyone else if I don’t manage it.”
He mentioned that head coach Russell Martin had been in touch, but that they’ve only had ‘little chats’ since Cooper went out on loan.
He was full of praise for the 37-year-old, emphasising just how much of an impact that Martin has had on his game.
“As a player he’s definitely helped me improve technically on the ball,” explained Cooper. “He has helped me a lot to make me a better player.
“Swansea are really good at playing out from the back, but he took that part of my game to another level.
“The aim for me is to go back and for him to let me and learn as much as I can so hopefully, I can come back in and add to his team next season.
“The message between me and Russ has always been clear. Go learn, get games, and improve.
“I think that we had a clear communication that I hadn’t played enough games consistently to be in the team, which was tough.”
Despite still being aged just 23, Cooper’s history with injuries has clearly left a mark on the Wales U21 international’s relationship with football.
After being recalled from his loan at Newport, he would suffer an unfortunate ankle injury which halted his momentum at a time where he was looking to break into Swansea’s team.
More recently, he suffered a knee injury which would yet again scupper his development, bringing his loan spell at Swindon to a premature end in March 2022.
“I appreciate every time that I go out and play a game," he revealed.
“Even at my age, I’ve had quite a few injuries at times where it’s stopped me from playing really well and the timing has been poor.
“I now take every game like it’s your last. You can’t look beyond it until the next one because you really don’t know if it’s going to be the last one.
“I enjoy going out there and competing. Everyone knows I’m competitive, I’m just making the most of every game and that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of the season.”
His ambitions of playing consistently for Swansea are clearly at the forefront of his mind, but it cannot be doubted that there is a burning desire and pride to play for Wales at senior level.
Having already been called up to the squad on two occasions, a maiden cap for Rob Page’s side is still yet to come.
“The dream is to get that cap,” Cooper explained.
“It’s what I have got to aim for. I had a taste of it being called up to the squad in the past, but I just need to get there again and make it happen this time.
“If I’m playing, and playing at a good enough level then I know that will follow.”
Cooper admits there has been no contact from Wales recently, but is more than aware that if he plays at a good enough level that the situation will take care of itself.
“Boys such as Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper and Ben Cabango, they’ve all done that and now they’re getting their Wales call-ups as well, I can see myself doing that," he explained. "I just need to build on what I’m doing here so that I can go back to Swansea and make it happen.
“Getting to see the likes of my mates who I’ve played with since we were tiny, it is now the next step for me and having played at that level and I know I can do it.
“They’re in the Championship, scoring goals, assisting, playing a lot of games and doing well.
“I just need to get myself in that position. I know that Rob Page likes me - I’ve worked under him before, he was the one to give me my debut for the under-21s. I know we’ve got a good relationship so it’s just up to me to get to that standard.”
Despite not being able to keep up as much with the fortunes of his parent club, the defender explained that he’s been in touch with some of the Swans squad - he still tries to catch up with the highlights of matches.
“Obviously, I haven’t watched the games when I’ve been playing, but I’ve talked to some of the boys and watched some highlights and I think they’ve been there or thereabouts in quite a lot of the games recently," he said.
“I know they went through a tough spell of losing games, but they weren’t by massive margins and I’m glad that they won the other day against Bristol City.
“Now coming back off the international break, they’re coming into a big game against Cardiff so hopefully they can go and win that. It would great for the fans, as everyone knows how important that is.
"If I can go back in next season and help to shore up a bit of the defensive side, where they’ve been lacking then that would be brilliant as well."
While his current focus may remain in Gloucestershire for the time being, it’s ultimately clear that Cooper has a determination to cement his place in south Wales for the long term.
Cooper has a year left on his deal in SA1, but there is an option to extend his current contract by another year until 2025.
“I’ve definitely always backed myself to play for Swansea, it’s always just been about getting the opportunity," he said.
“I think everyone knows exactly how much I’d love to play for Swansea, I’ve been there since I was six. It’s just a case of doing it regularly and I can hopefully show the fans at Swansea how much it means to me to play for them.
“I’m sure that it will happen, it’s just getting there and doing as much as I can to be ready taking my chance when it comes – I just need one now.”
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