Defender Kyle Bartley is impressing during his loan spell at Championship side Leeds United, but will he ever make it in the Premier League for Swansea City?
The former Arsenal defender has teamed up again with Garry Monk at Elland Road, and the former boss is clearly a fan of his having picked him over Jordi Amat to replace Federico Fernandez towards the end of his managerial spell with the Swans.
| “I can’t see it happening. He should have made it by now if he was good enough.” GThomas |
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But Bartley has continuously proved to be too error prone in the Premier League, but has often found his feet when going on loan in the Championship. You can’t rule out Monk looking to make the loan permanently if he continues to perform the way he is.
Monk didn’t get off to the best of starts at Leeds, but their form is improving, and Bartley’s defensive partnership with Jansson has played a vital role.
Monk’s job was already in serious doubt only a month ago, but they’ve won 4 of the last 5 Championship games, conceding just three goals – rising to 11th in the table.
In their previous game, a 2-1 home win against Barnsley, Bartley joined former Swan Pablo Hernandez on the scoresheet.
Ex Leeds United player Andy Ritchie has praised Bartley’s influence for Leeds this season:
“Pontus Jannson is getting a lot of plaudits for his performances at Leeds United, but I have got to say that Kyle Bartley has also been fantastic – and for me, he outshone Jansson in the Barnsley game last weekend”
“I thought that Bartley was great all day. And at the end, he really kept it together in getting his head on everything and was marshalling everyone for me.
“To be fair, everyone was telling me that Jansson was the person who had done that before and was bringing the performances out of people with his enthusiasm, if you like. Jansson did the little ‘step overs` a couple of times to really get the crowd going also and you need those characters.
“Let`s face it, there aren`t many characters left in the game, are there. But for me, Bartley was just brilliant in those last 15 minutes.
“Looking at Leeds with those two, they look to have a bit of steeliness at the back now and they have just got to get it going forward-wise now.”
Can Bartley use his experience in the Championship to improve as a Premier League player for the Swans? Or has he simply found his level? He went on loan to Birmingham City a few years ago but still couldn’t return and earn a more regular starting place.
With van der Hoorn and Alfie Mawson signed in the Summer, Bartley will return next Summer as fifth choice centre back.
| Should Swansea City look to sell Kyle Bartley next Summer? | ||
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