Planet Swans ArchivesSpeaking to todays Western Mail Swans youngster Ben Davies is very happy with the way things are going:
With Neil Taylors horrific injury it meant the 19-year-old was handed his chance to impress despite having managed just six minutes of top flight football beforehand.
Although admittedly raw, Davies has not let anyone down with his displays at left-back, earning praise from the likes of Alan Tate for “not thinking he’s made it before he has” as he continues to adapt with every new step of experience.
And it’s been enough to see him keep out Bosman signing Dwight Tiendalli, a player with a Champions League background after time with FC Twente, as well as a second call-up into the senior Wales squad.
It’s all moved rather quickly for a player who had been scheduled to be more reserve than regular on Match of the Day this season.
But Davies concedes that the do-or-die opportunity meant he had no option but to prove he could handle the pressure of playing Premier football – and he’s happy to be making the most of it.
“Things are totally different to what I was used to last year, but it’s great and I can’t complain,” said Davies, his appearance against Reading his eighth senior outing having made none prior to August.
“I got the chance to play a game and Michael Laudrup must have thought I did well to keep playing me. It’s a totally different to playing under-21s football or reserve football, but I can only do my best and hopefully stand up to the opposition we play against.
“Everything’s a lot quicker, the players are a lot more switched on and there’s no time to rest in the game.
“But as a young player all I’ve got to do is work as hard as I can and do my best in the game.
“And I’ve got to keep enjoying what’s happening because I don’t know when I might get a chance like this again.
“I never thought things would happen like this, but it’s probably the best way because I’ve got to take it in my stride.”
Laudrup went out to sign Tiendalli after citing Davies’ age as a factor against him playing all year, although the Dane is yet to drop the youngster.
There have been some harsh lessons to learn as part of a Swans defence rightly criticised for leaking goals, two-a-game on average since the third game of the season which will stick in the throats of those proud of last term’s clean sheet record.
But Davies says he is ready to improve with every outing and appears unconcerned should Laudrup eventually opt to take him out of the firing line, already taking confidence from the faith shown and determined to repay it.
“So far I’ve kept my place and it shows the manager’s got a bit of faith in me and that’s only down to how I’ve been playing,” he said.
“Hopefully if I can keep on playing well, I’ll have more of a chance to play games.”
“If needs be I could play all season, but it all comes down to Michael Laudrup and what he wants to do.
“Some people think, as a young player, it’s impossible to play every week because I might get worn out.
“At the moment I’m happy to play every week and do the best I can. I think I’m settling down into the role and into the Premier League; things happened very quickly at the start, but I think now I’ve held my own in this league so far.
“Hopefully I can keep progressing, keep performing and improve.”
