Baker-Richardson eyes further opportunities

6th January
First team

Courtney Baker-Richardson hopes his goal against Aston Villa will lead to more first-team opportunities for Swansea City.

The striker was handed the responsibility of leading the line at Villa Park, with Oli McBurnie and Wilfried Bony sidelined by sickness, and enjoyed a fine afternoon including an early close-range finish.

It was his second goal in five starts this term, and set Graham Potter’s men on their way to an eventual 3-0 triumph in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

It was a special day for the 23-year-old, who hails from nearby Coventry, and feels he is becoming increasingly confident and comfortable at first-team level.

“I just try to stay calm when I get the chance, before there have been situations where I have worked myself up too much and made mistakes,” he said.

“I am a local boy, coming up through Coventry, so it was a big day for me and I felt comfortable and it showed in the result.

“As a striker you want to score goals and it means so much to me to do that for the team.

“The gaffer has faith in me, he has told me to have faith in myself so you take it on-board. I hope there are more starts and more goals to come.”

The 23-year-old joined the Swans from Leamington FC in the summer of 2017 and admits the adjustment to the higher level has inevitably taken time.

But he believes he is starting to show exactly what he is capable of.

“There is a difference of six leagues between what I am playing now and what I was playing just two years ago, but I feel more comfortable and I am having more of an impact," he added.

“I feel myself getting better every day.”