Cooper's under-23 pride

Oli Cooper has revealed his pride after making his first competitive appearance for Swansea City Under-23s.

The 18-year-old, who signed his first professional contract in the summer, made his debut for the development side against Leicester City earlier this week.

Started on the left-hand side of a three-man attacking midfield, Cooper played the first 57 minutes as the young Swans’ Premier League 2 campaign began with a 1-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium.

However, despite the loss, he admits the experience of playing at a Premier League ground has made him even more hungry for further opportunities to shine on the big stage.

“It was a great moment for me to start my first game in the league for the under-23s,” the midfielder said. “It was a great confidence booster for me to be trusted in that position.

“It was an amazing experience walking out onto the pitch and seeing the stands. I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again.

“I’d like to continue playing in stadiums, in front of crowds and against good opposition. Hopefully, I can improve each game.”

The under-23s are next in action when they take on Derby at Landore on Monday (7pm).