Swans boss Martin praises debutants

10th August
First team
Reading away Joel Piroe

Russell Martin praised the showings of Swansea City debutants Daniel Williams and Joel Piroe after the pair were among those to impress in the Carabao Cup win at Reading.

Midfielder Williams and striker Piroe were handed starting roles at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with the Dutchman getting on the scoresheet by scoring the third and final goal.

Williams, 20, belied his lack of senior experience with a composed midfield display, ending the night with more then 90 touches and a pass completion rate of 96 per cent.

Piroe, meanwhile, grew into the game and took his goal well, shortly after a wonderful solo run had so nearly ended in an early goal-of-the-season contender.

All of which left head coach Martin a happy man, on a night when Kyle Joseph and Lincoln Mcfayden also had bright moments as they made their Swansea bows from the bench.

“We had a few people play tonight who did not get a game at the weekend,” said Martin.

Reading away Dan Williams dribble

“I thought they all impressed. I thought Dan Williams for his first-ever start was incredible.

“I was really, really pleased with the job he did, Joel was also fantastic and I could go on.

“We said to the guys at half-time that we needed to give Joel a chance to score because of the hard work he was putting in for the team.

“In the end he ended up having two or three, one of which he created himself brilliantly. I was really pleased with him.

“I felt Saturday (at Blackburn) was a different game and I had to judge it based on what I had seen in training, because that is all we had to judge things on, and he has reacted brilliantly to the chat we had.

"Tonight, he has put himself right into the frame, he took the ball in well, he led the line well, he pressed well and took his goal brilliantly. I am pleased for him."