Phil SumblerMorgan Whittaker made his first Swans league start against Cardiff City last weekend but is still seen by his manager as one for the future despite looking dangerous on the day as well as from his substitute appearance against Bournemouth just a few days before.
The Swans have drawn two blanks in their two defeats and have become much more goal shy in a series of performances that have not lived up to the expectations created up to the beginning of February.
Goals from Andre Ayew have largely been from the penalty spot and Conor Hourihane has netted a few but Jamal Lowe has not found the back of the net for the Swans since mid January and somewhat forced the change onto Cooper for the Cardiff game.
We, of course, have been hampered by the unfortunate injury to Jordan Morris that ended his loan spell early and Whittaker has largely been playing a watching brief since arriving from Derby in the January transfer window.
A goal against Manchester City in the FA Cup showed what he can be capable of and he has had some good chances in both the last two games and been denied by good saves from keepers in both games to keep his league tally for the club at nil.
Cooper though is clearly mot being drawn on whether Whittaker will feature more in the games to come although reading more into his comments will suggest that his recent performances have certainly done him no harm in the eyes of his manager.
“He is a young player, so we won’t get carried away, but he should be pleased with his work,” Cooper said on the club’s official website.
“He does come inside to areas well, and he gives us another attacking option to choose from.
“We see him as being one for the future, and we don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but he has shown a number of positive signs.”
Things could easily have gone differently for Morgan against Cardiff with a couple of shots just missing the target as well as one late in stoppage time being well saved as the Swans looked for an equaliser in a game where we dominated large parts but were denied by some stout and determined Cardiff defending.
“Morgan has done well, we fancied him on some of those chances against Cardiff because he is good with his left foot,” Cooper added.
“He will be ruing a few of them, but overall – given it was his first start – I thought it was positive for him and there’s a lot he will gain from that experience.”
For me Whittaker has done enough to warrant a second inclusion against Birmingham next Friday although Jamal Lowe’s goal for Jamaica in midweek could turn his confidence around and mean that he is recalled to the starting line up.
Whatever happens though on Friday, given the short period in which the last nine games will be played we certainly haven’t seen the last of Morgan Whittaker this season and hopefully Cooper will continue seeing positives in his performances.
