Ollie Cooper motivated by battle for starting role

Ollie Cooper says the competition for places in the Swansea City squad has made him more determined than ever to continue to strive to improve and grow as a player.

The Wales international enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, making his first start for the club and scoring his first league goal. In total, he made 44 appearances for the Swans, scoring six goals and won a first senior cap at international level.

Cooper was on the bench for the opening league fixture of the season, before starting against Northampton and West Bromwich Albion.

With the Swans having added eight new faces over the summer in the form of Jerry Yates, Josh Ginnelly, Josh Key, Mykola Kuharevich, Harrison Ashby, Carl Rushworth, Charlie Patino and Nathan Tjoe-A-On.

And Cooper believes the hard battle for places in the starting XI can only be a good thing for him and his teammates.

“I’ve got to do what I can to get in the team, and then I’ve got to do what I can to stay in the team,” he said.

“It’s just about working every single day on and off the pitch to make sure I’m ready to give everything I can when I’m on the pitch.

“The new players have come in and settled in well. They’ve fitted in with the squad and we have a good group.

“I think we’re good at welcoming new players in and I think you’ve seen from the games so far that they’ve settled in.

“I think everyone needs competition because it helps you push on.

“It’s something players can thrive under. That competition is something I’m looking forward to because no one wants it to be plain sailing and just be in the team every single week.

“You want to be pushed, and when you get in the team you need to do everything you can to stay in the team. You want that competition and you have to keep striving to try and get better all the time.

"I'm still young and I feel like I have a lot still to show and a lot still to learn."