Rodon's praise for academy

Joe Rodon has heaped praise on Swansea City’s academy for creating a path to first-team football at the Liberty.

The centre-back is one of a number of young players to have graduated from the club’s academy into Graham Potter’s first-team squad this season.

Rodon made his Swans debut in the second game of the campaign – a 1-0 win over Preston – and has become a key figure in Potter’s defence.

Fellow academy team-mates Connor Roberts, Oli McBurnie, Jay Fulton and Daniel James have featured heavily this season while George Byers and Cian Harries have both made league debuts.

And local lad Rodon, who hails from Llangyfelach, was full of praise for the academy in the pathway it has created for young talent.

“I am grateful for everything that the academy has done for me. A lot of people have played the part in my journey so far,” said Rodon, who has played 14 times this season.

“There’s Connor, Oli, Jay, Cian, George, Dan, Cian and myself who have come through the academy and gone on to play for the first team.

“Nothing has been accomplished yet but this is the start and a step forward. The academy deserves huge credit because it prepared us all for progressing into the first team and taking the opportunities the gaffer has given us.”