Guehi excited to link-up with childhood pal Brewster

Marc Guehi is excited to be linking up with World Cup winning room-mate and childhood friend Rhian Brewster after the defender joined his former club and international colleague at Swansea City.

The 19-year-old – who can play centre-back or right-back – has sealed a loan move from Chelsea to the Swans for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign.

His signing comes just a few days after Liverpool striker Brewster completed his own loan switch to the Liberty, and both players are in contention for selection for Sunday’s South Wales derby against Cardiff City.

Guehi revealed the chance to again link up with Steve Cooper – who coached Guehi and Brewster to World Cup success at under-17 level – was too good to turn down.

He has every confidence he and Brewster are at the right club to aid their development, and he is determined to keep the sixth-placed Swans firmly in the Championship promotion hunt over the final 20 games of the season.

“I have known Rhian since we were kids, about six or seven years old,” said Guehi.

“He is one of my best mates, and my room-mate when we were away with England. I am really happy that he is here as well.

“I really hope we can do some good work here. We spoke a bit before these moves although we did not want to give too much away to each other.

“But we knew how important it was for us to pick the right place and the right club to get down to work and really improve in our careers.

“We are grateful for that chance and hopefully we can carry on with that work.

“We are in a play-off place. If we can try and push towards those automatic spots then that would be great.

“If not then we will be aiming for the play-offs. To go to Wembley, give the fans that big day out, and hopefully get promoted would be amazing.”

 “This club knows what it takes to be in the big time, and it’s important we get back to that.”

Having been born in the Ivory Coast, Guehi joined the Blues at under-eight level and has worked his way up to the first team, featuring in the Carabao Cup games against Grimsby and Manchester United earlier this season.

He has worked under ex-Swan Frank Lampard, while another Swansea old boy, Tammy Abraham gave the youngster advice – drawing on his own experience in SA1 - on why a loan move could prove so important in his development.

“I didn’t speak specifically about Swansea, but Tammy and the other boys at the club told me how important it was for me to go out on loan and get that experience,” Guehi added.

“Having spoken to him I am sure Swansea is the right place for me.”

Guehi also had plenty of praise for Swans boss Cooper, and described tasting global success in India in 2017 as one of the best periods of his fledgling career to date.

And he is excited to get down to work with a coach he knows so well.

“I know this is a big chance and a step up for me into the men’s game, I am really excited to be here,” he said.

“It’s a good opportunity for myself. The gaffer is a big part of the reason for coming here having worked before with him at England Under-17 level.

“It was huge for me, you are coming to a place where you are unfamiliar with your surroundings. So, to have that familiar face really helps in terms of getting down to work.

“It was great working with him before, we won the World Cup and it doesn’t get much better than that! There’s not much you can compare that to.”

As for the chance to make his debut in a South Wales derby where Swansea City can become the first side to clinch a league double in the fixture; Guehi is chomping at the bit.

“It would be massive, I have heard already just how much it means to the fans,” he said.

“With me being a Swansea player, to be playing for this club, it means an awful lot to me right now.

“Everyone will be doing their best to make sure we do get that win.”