Academy coaches proud of international call-ups

Coaches Anthony Wright and Darren Davies have expressed their pride after a number of Swansea City academy players were called up to represent their nations during the current international break.

A dozen players across the professional development phase were called up to play for their respective nations during the March international window.

Nine of those have been chosen to represent Wales across three age-groups, with Iwan Morgan, Kit Margetson, Jacob Cook and Sam Parker linking up with Craig Knight’s Under-17s' squad ahead of their Uefa European Championship Elite Round qualifiers.  

Josh Carey and Dan Watts – who are both uncapped at under-19 level – were called upon for Wales’ friendly double header against Scotland on March 23 (6.30pm kick-off) and March 26 (1pm kick-off) respectively. 

Meanwhile, Azeem Abdulai received his maiden international call-up for Scotland Under-21s for their training camp in Pinatar, Spain. The 20-year-old will face his Swansea City team-mates Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill and Josh Thomas as Scotland go head-to-head with Wales on March 25 (12pm kick-off GMT). 

Unfortunately, Ben Lloyd and Swans keeper Ben Hughes have withdrawn from Matty Jones’ Under-21s' squad due to injury.

Further afield, under-18s' midfielder Aimar Govea is currently representing Ecuador Under-17s, as they prepare for the upcoming South American Under-17 Championship later this month. 

Davies said "It's absolutely fantastic that so many players have gone to represent their countries, and represent Swansea City internationally.

"This is what we strive for as an academy, as a club and we as coaches are so proud of them. 

"It's a great opportunity for them to develop as a individuals, and within a different team environment with some great coaches and staff."

Under-21s' coach Wright added : "I said to the the lads in the changing room after the Reading game that a lot of hard work has been put in by them to get to this level.

"it's the first time for Joel [Cotterill], and Cameron [Congreve] going on to represent the under-21s, and Azeem [Abdulai] has done ever so well to earn his first international call-up with Scotland.

"It's a great occasion for the boys, and we've just said how proud we are for those guys to go and represent their countries and their club.

"I'm sure they'll do us, and the club, proud."