Josh Sheehan credits Swansea City academy for helping to launch Wales career

Josh Sheehan has credited his formative years at Swansea City as the key driver in his rise to international honours with Wales.

The midfielder is one of nine players in Craig Bellamy's latest squad to have been on the books at Swansea's academy, having first joined the Swans at the age of 10.

After several loan stints away, he would leave SA1 with just a single senior appearance to his name in 2018, joining Newport County before linking up with current club Bolton Wanderers in League One.

Injuries certainly didn't help his efforts to make the grade with the Swans, but the 29-year-old insists he's grateful for those early experiences, which he says are continuing to serve him well in the red of Wales.

“The way I grew up through Swansea. Obviously since Roberto Martinez was there, they've played in a similar way to how Wales are playing now,” Sheehan said. “Every team I've gone to I've tried to stamp my authority on games. The more of a footballing team we are, I can get involved and control and dictate games.

"A big part was growing up in the Swans Academy, helping me going forward in my career.

“That's the type of player I am. Every part of the journey, even going through the serious injuries. Sometimes when you get along period of time off you learn from just watching more football and speaking to different people. Injuries are something you can't control. They are out of your hands, but I just want to go and play.”

Veteran Joe Allen was someone Sheehan idolised growing up coming through the ranks with the Swans, and he admits it feels a little strange to finally be able to call him a team-mate.

“I was a teenager and he was breaking into the first-team. I didn't want to be Joe Allen, but I looked up to him in the academy.” Sheehan added. “Someone I've always looked up to as a role model. Similar build, similar player, similar position.

"It's surreal really to share a pitch with him.

“He can still do all the running. See him in training and he's as fit as he's ever been.”

Sheehan earned plenty of plaudits following an impressive performance in the 1-0 win over Montenegro in the last camp, and was even handed the captain's armband towards the end of Rob Page's tenure.

Having worked so hard to get to this point, he's clearly keen to make the most of his international career, whether it's with the captain's armband or not.

“It was not something I ever thought about," he said when quizzed on the significance of skippering his country. "For me it was all about putting on the shirt. That was something I wanted to achieve as I dreamt about it.

"Getting the armband is something I will always be thankful for. I'll never forget it.

“I had a good season for my club last year and every time I put on the Wales shirt I just want to perform and show the Welsh fans what I'm about - and they can trust me when I get the chance.”

Sheehan is one of only a handful of players in this Welsh squad who is playing below Championship level but firmly believes he still deserves his spot in the squad.

“I think the type of player I am. I'm a technical type of player. I feel like the jump, personally, isn't as big as maybe it's more the physical side," he said.

“I feel like I'm good enough to play as high a level as I can. I more than hold my own in training. It's not something I think about, because I believe in my own ability.

“I've had a couple of serious injuries, which is just part and parcel. There's nothing I can do about that. Nothing I can change. I believe in myself and I believe in my ability. I'll always back myself regardless.

“I've always believed in myself. My family have believed in me as well. We've always known what I was capable of doing. I feel like the last few years I've been able to show that by being more consistent in my game.

"I feel like football sometimes is about being in the right team, at the right time, in the right place. I feel like over the last couple of years it's been the right team, the right time, the right style of play.”