Nathanael Ogbeta trains with Swansea City after a ‘testing’ week
Saturday, 5th Feb 2022 11:00 by David Cornish & Keith Haynes

New Swansea City signing Nathanael Ogbeta trained for the first time yesterday after three days of medical tests, media and the usual disruption a transfer brings on deadline day. And we also hear from his ex manager Steve Cotterill.

Nathanael’s beaming face was a picture for sure when he introduced himself to Swansea City fans on Tuesday. He is a devout christian and his references to his belief that his pathway to Swansea was a guided one displayed a young man very comfortable with his life. His manager at Shrewsbury, Steve Cotterill seemed delighted yesterday when commenting on Ogbeta’s transfer and the fee obtained for him. It’s not certain if he meant it was a great fee and move for the player or he felt the cash earned was the best he could ever expect for a player of Ogbeta’s standard.

Make of these comments what you will. “I think it was a disappointing one in how it all happened, I think that would be the disappointment in that one. We’ve ended up getting an incredible fee for somebody who has only been here for a short period of time. There has been a lot of work put into Nathanael, so I suppose there is an element of disappointment that he’s gone after all the work that was put into him. Having said that, I received a nice text off him on Tuesday and we had a conversation and it’s really nice to have been at the start of his career. Myself, the staff, the players who are already here, and the supporters have all helped a young man on his way. Then on the stalling and on off move he said “We didn’t need a left-wing-back, then we did need a left-wing-back, then we didn’t need a left-wing-back and then we did, so it was an unbelievable window and at the end, it was so disappointing to not get the couple of lads we wanted to get.”

Nathanael Ogbeta a last minute deadline day signing for the swans

Something and nothing there from Cotterill but swans manager Russell Martin has made his point that after a week of tests and only limited opportunity to train that Ogbeta may not start the match. Seemingly still distracted with Jamie Paterson when he met the press this week it’s looking likely a side that resembled Tuesday night will start.

More on this game and the teams later on this afternoon.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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