Potter hails "model professional" Grimes

Graham Potter has hailed Matt Grimes as a "model professional" and praised the manner in which the Swansea City midfielder has made his mark in SA1 this season.

Grimes, 23, first joined the Swans from Exeter in January of 2015, but the former England Under-20 international found it difficult to break into the first-team and he had made just four league appearances for the club prior to the start of the campaign.

He spent spells out on loan with Blackburn, Leeds and Northampton, but he has become an important and integral part of Potter's plans this season, making 37 appearances in all competitions and impressing with his consistency and ability to dictate play in midfield.

Against Bolton last weekend, Grimes became the first player in the Championship this season to complete 50 passes in the final third in a single game, and he racked up 116 successful passes from 124 attempts against the Trotters.

And, while he has not maybe grabbed the headlines in a similar manner to several of his team-mates, the Swans boss has nothing but praise for Grimes.

"I think he has been fantastic on and off the pitch," said Potter.

"From early pre-season he showed the type of character he is. He stepped in at left-back, he just wanted to help and he wanted to be involved.

"He wants to do his bit for the team, and he didn't get too down or disappointed when he did not originally play. He was prepared to wait for his opportunity.

"He has grown and grown as the season has gone on. He is a footballer who every day he does his very best, he is a model professional.

"His character is very impressive, to have the setbacks he has had and to fight to have to the opportunity to play is exactly how he is.

"He does not get too excited, he does not take things for granted. He is level-headed and he can improve further and he is bound to improve because of those personal attributes he has.

"I am really proud of what he has done, and how he is as a person."