Brandon Cooper hopes to use new deal as foundation for more opportunities

Brandon Cooper hopes to use his contract extension as the foundation to kick on following a positive start to the season at Swansea City.

The defender has put pen to paper on a new deal at the Swansea.com Stadium, one which will run until the summer of 2024 with an option for a further 12 months.

Cooper has made seven appearances already this season, and has won plenty of praise from head coach Russell Martin for his displays in a new system and style.

The 21-year-old has also received call-ups to the Wales senior squad, and he hopes the security of his new contract will allow him to kick on and further establish himself in the first team.

“I am delighted and grateful for the faith the club have shown in me,” said the Wales Under-21 captain, who has been with the Swans since the age of six.

“It allows me to relax and just focus on getting better without looking over my shoulder, I need to keep improving and try and get a few more games under my belt.

“I have been here a long time, this club has been my life and every chance I get I do my best and I hope I can work hard and get another run of games.

“This season has been great for me, to have seven games has been really good, even though I want more.

“But on the back of my injury I would have taken that, the style suits me and the boys and there are good signs.

“We will keep going forward, keep learning, keep moving forward and get the results.”

Cooper made his first-team debut against Crystal Palace in 2018 before making his league bow as a substitute in last season’s home win over Derby County.

Injury struck after that last outing against the Rams, but he recovered in time to be thrust into the starting line-up over the opening weeks of the campaign.

Competition is stiff for one of the defensive slots with Kyle Naughton, Ryan Bennett, Ryan Manning, Rhys Williams, Joel Latibeaudiere and Ben Cabango also among Martin’s options for the three starting roles.

But Cooper is determined to learn from the experience and knowledge of those around him, to keep improving, and get further opportunities to impress.

“There is a lot of competition and you have to take the chance to perform when you get it,” he said.

“Learning from the senior players like Naughts and Benno is great for the younger players, and seeing how they play the game in this system.

“You try and take bits from what they do and hope it can help you improve. I have played across all three parts of that back three, I like the middle slot and you can see how great Naughts is at it, and I would be happy if I can be as good at it as he has been.”