Young Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran spent Tuesday training with the Swansea City squad after joining the Premier League new boys on loan until the end of the season.
The England Under 21 international, who is from Oxford but has been at Stamford Bridge since he was eight, is hoping to gain vital first-team experience and help the Welsh side secure their place in the Premier League for next season. A loan deal for the 18-year-old had been delayed earlier this season by Blues boss Andres Villas-Boas, but he Chelsea manager has now relented and allowed McEachran to join former Blues trainee Scott Sinclair at the Liberty Stadium.
"I'm delighted to be here to be honest,'' he said. "I wanted to come earlier, but Chelsea had a few injuries and things. There was interest from a number of other Premier League clubs, but I wanted to come to Swansea because of the style of football they play. I think it will suit me.
"The manager (Brendan Rodgers) also had a big impact on my decision. I've known him from his Chelsea days and I think he is a fantastic manager. He's got the team playing well. I watched the Arsenal game on TV and they did really, really well.
"It's hard to believe that nine years ago Swansea were bottom of the entire Football League and Arsenal were top of the Premier League. It's amazing.''
There were a few familiar faces on hand at the training ground to welcome Josh into the camp. "I know a few of the Swansea lads already,'' he said. "I know Scott from Chelsea and Steven Caulker from the England squads.
"It's a really young team here at Swansea and I think I will fit in well. I certainly hope so because I want to get a place in the team and play a lot more Premier League games.''
A central or left-sided creative midfielder, McEachran made his first team debut aged 17 as a substitute in a 4-1 away Champions League win in Zilina in September 2010. In total he made four starts and 13 substitute appearances last season, and signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea in July 2011, making two Premier League appearances this season from the bench and three Carling Cup starts.
He was also a member of the England Under-17 squad that lifted the European Championship in 2010, before graduating to the Under-19 and Under-21 squads. McEachran will hope to make his debut against Sunderland on Saturday, but might have trouble grabbing a starting slot in the Swansea midfield following the club's 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
It could be the start of an amazing 2012 for the teenager, who is one of around 270 players who have been asked by the FA if they would consider turning out for the GB Olympic team this summer. Swansea City boss Brendan Rogers "He's a player who sees passes from the sky. He's an incredible passer of the ball and the Swansea fans will get to witness one of the best talents this country's got.
"I've got a really talented and gifted group of players at this level and he'll come into the squad and add to that. He'll give us that bit of strength for the second part of the season."
