Toshack: Checkatrade experience invaluable

Cameron Toshack wants Swansea City’s development players to continue to learn from the challenge of the Checkatrade Trophy this season.

A Swans Under-21s side kick off their campaign in Group E against League Two side Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road tonight (7.45pm).

The young Swans went out at the quarter-final stage of the competition last season, losing on penalties to eventual winners Coventry City.

Despite that disappointment, Toshack is confident the Swans will continue to benefit from playing in the restructured tournament this campaign.

“All the players and staff are looking forward to kicking off our campaign in the competition,” Toshack said.

“The experience we gained from the Checkatrade Trophy last season was invaluable.

“We are looking at it as an opportunity to continue to develop our players and in competition against EFL teams to see how far we can go.

“Cheltenham will be a physical side who won’t want to lose at home. It will be a tough encounter and one we need to raise our game for.

“We are looking forward to the challenge. The competition asks different questions of our young players, but we have a group who are capable at this level.

“The overall goal is to nurture our local and home-grown players and we hope to continue that in the competition this season.”

The young Swans will be without Ryan Blair after the midfielder suffered a foot injury against Liverpool in Premier League 2 on Friday.