PURE SWANSEA: ‘He’s like a bus’: in-form Copp primed to haunt old club Pontardawe

League leaders Pure Swansea return to action on Friday night, and there is one storyline Jack Midwinter cannot ignore: Kyle Copp against the club he left in the summer.

The unbeaten leaders host Pontardawe Town at Swansea Bay Sports Park (7.30pm kick-off), their first game since the top-of-the-table draw with Pontypridd United a fortnight ago.

Copp scored 32 goals for Pontardawe last season before crossing to Sketty Lane, and arrives with three in his last two games.

“What has really stood out for me with Kyle is his attitude and performance levels even when he wasn’t scoring goals,” said Midwinter.

“We had a couple of conversations because he was frustrated that he wasn’t hitting the net as regularly as he’d like to, but his performances have stood out to us with his attitude.

“We were winning games and he wasn’t sulking about not scoring, he was encouraging lads and making sure boys still performed at their level. It was only a matter of time before Kyle hit the back of the net.

“He’s three in two, and he’s like a bus, you wait for one and all of a sudden, a load come along at the same time. We’re hoping this is now the time where Kyle finds his rhythm.

“The benefit for us is Kyle was their top goalscorer last year and he’s going to be wearing an orange shirt on Friday, so hopefully that benefits us.”

‘Our top line is excellent’

Copp is one third of a front line that has carried the leaders to the top, alongside Casey Coughlin and Bradley Gibbings.

“Our top line is excellent, we’ve got lads there who complement each other really well so Kyle, Casey and Brad Gibbings are all different type of players, but they all complement each other in what they do,” said Midwinter.

“I think the important thing is the three of them know that they’ve got to work hard for the team. As long as they do that, they know the team will give them opportunities to score goals or create goals.

“That’s what’s happening at the moment, they’ve all got different skills and qualities that maybe the other players in the team don’t possess. With Kyle he’s a player that operates differently to the other two up there and his quality has shown over the last couple of games.”

A struggling visitor given respect

Pontardawe arrive without a win since the opening day, but Midwinter is wary of a side Pure came up alongside from the Ardal South West.

“We came up with Ponty last year, we’ve had a couple of good games over the last two seasons in the Ardal,” he said.

“They’re a young team, it’s not that they lack quality or anything. They’ve got some very good young players, I think they just need time to sort of adapt to the league and I think they will come good.

“For us, it’s about preparing properly, doing what we do well and take our opportunities when we get them and score goals.

“I think as long as we come with the right attitude and the right mentality, not just against Pontardawe, but any team in the league, I think teams will have a tough time keeping us out.”