The Wales players moulded in 'the Swansea way'

Wales' team photo before this month's game against MontenegroImage source, Getty Images
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Wales' win over Montenegro this month means they are unbeaten in four games under new head coach Craig Bellamy

There was a feeling of pride at Swansea City as Wales beat Montenegro earlier this month.

That was because no fewer than seven products of Swansea's academy featured in the Nations League victory, with Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon, Josh Sheehan and Liam Cullen starting the game and Ollie Cooper and Joe Allen coming on as substitutes.

The contingent of Swansea products might have been even bigger.

Connor Roberts spent a rare night on the bench, while another Wales regular, Daniel James, was missing through injury.

Swansea can even claim to have played some part in the development of Rhys Norrington-Davies - who was back involved with Wales this month after long-term injury problems - given that he was with the club as a youngster before switching to Sheffield United.

Only four of the Wales contingent remain on Swansea's books - in Allen's case, after time away at Liverpool and Stoke City - but that does not take away from the pleasure felt over so many international players emerging from their youth set-up.

“Watching another very good performance from the national team and having so many players involved was brilliant," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

"It made me feel very proud of the boys who were on the pitch that I work with day in, day out, and boys on the bench as well."

In what has been a golden period for Wales' men's side, many of the names responsible for the good times have been produced by Swansea.

Joe Allen

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Joe Allen made two appearances for Wales in the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Allen is the old stager among the current Wales players developed at Swansea, having come out of international retirement to be included in Craig Bellamy's squad earlier this month.

The 34-year-old won his first cap since the World Cup in 2022.

Now in the latter stages of his career, Allen is in his second spell at Swansea.

The midfielder, from Pembrokeshire, came through the Swans ranks to make his first-team debut in May 2007 when aged just 16.

He left for Liverpool in 2012 then joined Stoke - after a potential return to Swansea did not materialise - before eventually returning to his boyhood club in 2022.

Allen now has 75 caps for Wales and represented his country at two European Championships as well as the World Cup.

Ben Davies

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Ben Davies made his Wales debut having made just eight senior appearances for Swansea

Ben Davies captained Wales against Montenegro as he filled in for the injured Aaron Ramsey.

Like Allen, he has represented Wales at two European Championships and a World Cup.

Neath-born Davies burst on to the first-team scene at Swansea when Michael Laudrup was in charge in 2012, seizing an opportunity presented by an injury to Neil Taylor.

He helped the Swans win their one major trophy, the 2013 League Cup, before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, where he is still going strong after a decade at the club.

Daniel James

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Daniel James had his spot-kick saved as Wales missed out on a place at Euro 2024 in a penalty shootout against Poland

James is yet to feature for Wales under Bellamy due to injury, but that should change next month after he returned to action with Leeds.

After joining Swansea's academy from Hull City's academy in 2014, the flying winger starred for the club's under-23 side before becoming a first-team regular during Graham Potter's reign.

He was sold to Manchester United in 2019 and moved on to Leeds in 2021, while he also had a loan spell at Fulham.

Joe Rodon

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Joe Rodon's grandfather Peter was also a professional footballer, playing for Bradford City in the 1960s

Local lad Joe Rodon grew up watching Swansea before landing a place in the club's academy at the age of eight.

The defender was given his senior debut by Potter in 2018, with Swansea rebuilding after relegation from the Premier League.

Rodon, 27, became a regular starter, helping Swansea reach the Championship play-offs in 2020.

Rodon, who made his Wales debut in 2019, left for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020 but made just 15 appearances for the London club in four years.

After a successful loan spell at Leeds last season, Rodon moved to Elland Road on a permanent basis in the summer and has started all four games under Bellamy.

Connor Roberts

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Connor Roberts scored 11 goals in his time at Swansea City

Roberts is another Swansea fan who joined their academy when aged nine, making his senior debut for the club in 2018.

The full-back's last appearance in the white of Swansea came in the Championship play-off final defeat to Brentford in 2021, as he was sold to Burnley that summer.

Neath-born Roberts has become a Wales regular since making his debut against Uruguay in the China Cup in 2018.

Liam Cullen

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Liam Cullen is Swansea's leading scorer so far this season with three goals

Kilgetty-born Cullen joined the Swansea youth ranks in 2007, making his first-team debut in 2018 at the age of 19.

Cullen, 25, has enjoyed regular first-team football under current Swansea boss Luke Williams, who recently described the striker as being "something of a talisman" for his team.

Cullen played his first competitive minutes in a Wales shirt in this month's international break.

Ben Cabango

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Ben Cabango had a loan spell with Cymru Premier champions The New Saints in the 2018-19 season

Defender Cabango joined Swansea's academy when aged 14 having previously been at Newport County.

Cabango made his Swansea debut in 2019, but his defining moment - so far - in a Swans shirt came in 2023, when he scored a 99th-minute winner against Cardiff City in the south Wales derby.

The 24-year-old has 11 caps and featured in both Nations League matches earlier this month.

Ollie Cooper

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Ollie Cooper has featured in all 11 Championship games for Swansea this season

Cooper's father Kevin was also a professional footballer who had spells at a number of clubs including Cardiff City and Newport County.

Cooper junior began his football journey at Swansea's academy in 2011 and signed his first professional contract in 2019.

The versatile midfielder has made more than 80 appearances for the club and is now establishing himself on the international stage.

Josh Sheehan

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Josh Sheehan made more than 100 appearances for Newport County

Sheehan joined Swansea's academy in 2005 at age 10 but would never make a senior league appearance for the club.

After a successful loan spell at Newport County, the midfielder moved to Rodney Parade on a permanent deal in 2018, ending a 13-year association with the Swans.

The 29-year-old is currently playing his football with League One side Bolton Wanderers.

Sheehan made his Wales debut in a 0-0 draw against the USA in 2020 and captained his country in the friendly against Gibraltar this summer.