Phil SumblerThe Swans have always had some level of a reputation for bringing players through from the ranks to bolster the first team squad. This has happened more and more in the years since relegation from the Premier League but do we have another star in the making in the form of Ali Al-Hamadi.
You can look at the names of Connor Roberts, Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen, Joe Rodon, Dan James and Oli McBurnie as great recent examples of those who featured at this level in recent years before coming into the first team with some of those already moving on for big money and others tipped to maybe follow them.
So those entrusted to the guidance of Kris O’Leary at the moment now you would assume would have a similar path ahead of them with the right amount of skill and hard work mixed together potentially opening the door for first team action.
We also know that it is not something that frightens Steve Cooper who is definitely a believer in the view that ‘if you are good enough you are old enough’ and that in itself should give anyone currently playing in the Under-23s team the belief that a first team chance could be just around the corner.
Al-Hamadi is doing his chances no harm by scoring for the Udner-23s. A recent hat-trick against Charlton was backed up by a goal against Ipswich and he clearly has a viewpoint that he should have grabbed more as he talked more about the chances that went astray rather than the one he actually converted against Ipswich.
“I feel like I had enough chances to put that game away. On another day, they would have gone in,” he told the club’s official website.
“After the game, you have the raw emotion and disappointment. But when the dust settles, you focus on the positives.”
The 19 year old has only made three starts but is showing enough to suggest that there could be a very promising future ahead of him and is looking to take his chances as they come “I’m looking forward to the rest of the season; the games are coming thick and fast,” he added.
“We’re getting a good rhythm now. We’ve got a few set starters week in week out, which has been good.
“Hopefully, we can keep that going and have a good end to the season.”
The next fixture is scheduled to be against Crewe on April 13.
💥 @alikalhamadi slots home the opener 👊
📺 Watch the best of the action as #SwansU23s hosted @IpswichTown this afternoon 👉 https://t.co/rYskgBCrdz pic.twitter.com/So6S8NLrIf
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) March 8, 2021
