Your Swansea City headlines on Monday, September 12.
Benda a 'different person'
Russell Martin says Steven Benda was "a different person" when he returned to Swansea this summer.
The German started last season as the club's first-choice shot stopper but was swiftly ousted by Ben Hamer. He joined Peterborough United on loan for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, but his game-time with the Posh was limited due to injury.
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He made his first league start for Swansea in just over a year last time out and kept a clean sheet to help the Swans to a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. And Martin has challenged Andy Fisher to show the same mentality as Benda after dropping to the bench for the QPR fixture.
"Steven had a lot of interest in the summer but remained so focused and trained brilliantly," revealed Martin. "He has some real top interest from clubs that I’m sure would have been appealing for him. We told him from the off that we didn’t want to lose him. He’s come back a different person this summer.
"Last season, dealing with disappointment was tough for him. He went on loan and got injured. The way he’s dealt with the disappointment and the way he came back and the place he’s in and the energy he brings to the group, it’s been really good to watch. I think he’s grown a lot. He deserved his opportunity.
"Fish has done great, it’s been relentless for him. He helped us to a really good second half of the season last year. We finished strongly and he was a big part of that. We were just in a difficult part of the season. It was gut instinct really. Fish is disappointed of course but he understands it and now it’s up to him to show the same reaction to disappointment as Steven."
Defender's 'no-brainer' call
Nathan Wood admits it was a "no-brainer" to leave Middlesbrough for Swansea in the summer.
The defender joined Boro as a schoolboy and was handed his first team debut at the age of just 16 in a Carabao Cup clash with Notts County in 2018. However, after struggling to get regular action at the Riverside Stadium, Wood - who had a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra - made the decision to leave the north east of England this year.
He has wasted no time in establishing himself as a key player under the current regime, featuring in eight of his new side's nine matches so far this term. And Wood admits his switch to the Swansea.com Stadium was the best move for his career.
"It wasn’t an easy decision, it was emotional because of my attachment to the club, but as a professional you’ve got to do what’s best for your career," he said. "When it came down to it, it was a no-brainer, especially when you come to a place like this."
Martin has long been an admirer of the 20-year-old and tried to sign Wood during his time as MK Dons manager. And the youngster believes the head coach's style of play is one he can thrive in.
"There’s a lot of responsibility on us as defenders and that’s enjoyable," he added. "You improve in high-pressure situations and I love the detail. It's really refreshing."
Young gun is 'brilliant message'
Russell Martin believes Ollie Cooper has been a perfect example to the rest of the Swansea squad when it comes to displaying the qualities required to make the step up into the club's first team.
Cooper was handed starts in the Championship matches against Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers and impressed in both fixtures as Martin's men collected four points from a possible six from the double header. Speaking after the 1-0 triumph over QPR, captain Matt Grimes said the ex-Newport County loanee had been a "shining light" for the club this season.
And Martin admits Cooper has significantly benefited from his time with the Exiles last season. "He's a brilliant message to the rest of the group," said the head coach.
"When you're willing to run and run hard for your team, you can have a really great impact. He's been brave, and he's just been selfless really, putting the team first and playing with no ego.
"He's just gone out and given everything he's got and enjoyed it, not knowing where it's going to lead to. We sent Ollie out on loan last season because of the competition there was. We just felt he wasn't quite at the intensity yet, but a season in League Two was brilliant for him.
"Pre-season, he was really good. Then the Oxford game we gave him the opportunity and he was great which led to opportunities off the bench, so it's just built up really. I've always told you I really liked him, it's why I spent several hours in the car going to watch him."
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Potter has earned stripes after Swans spell
Simon Jordan believes Graham Potter has earned the chance to impress at Chelsea.
The Englishman has progressed at Östersund, Swansea and Brighton over a number of years and was last week named as Thomas Tuchel's successor at Stamford Bridge. Potter guided the Swans to a 10th place finish in the Championship following the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
And pundit Jordan admits Potter's achievements with the Swans are better than they appear from the outside given the events that were unfolding at the club behind the scenes. Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan said: "He's earned his stripes. He's got an awareness of what football looks like.
"He had to go and manage in Sweden to give himself a managerial opportunity. That tells you something about his character.
"Swansea, I felt finishing eighth or ninth in the league wasn't great, but then I was told, ultimately, he was doing it on the backdrop of a squad that was being decimated by the need to balance the books and an ownership model that wasn't exactly on point. And, actually, he did a great deal of work which then attracted him to Brighton. The Brighton resumé is the good resumé."
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