Armstrong Oko-Flex is slowly gradually gaining game time in the Swansea City squad, and yesterday at Bristol City he definitely made a difference with his strong battling runs. His trade is best seen out on the wing so the best comparison as to the better option for Swansea can only be when compared to Matt Sorinola.

Flex is Dublin born and on the verge now of breaking in to the Republic’s first team squad. He is now twenty - an age where you either rise up as a professional footballer or you settle for what you have or look downwards. His lack of game time both at Swansea and previously at Celtic should tell him there’s more hard work to be done to gain recognition and a first team place. Yesterday we saw glimpses again of Flex’s ability on the ball and his direct attacking nature. For the first time we saw him in an advanced role when the swans were chasing the game. He looked far more comfortable in that role and was a part of the reason the swans equalised, and could have gone on to win the game.

Matthew Sorinola is another loanee who blows hot and cold, it’s very hard to put a case forwards for him to be included in the first team every week. His crossing ability is a big plus but many have commented on his creative stats in the last third, and as yesterday revealed his passing can be poor. When both he and Joel Latibeaudiere don’t perform the swans can look toothless. In Flex we do have the answer, for me a much better player than Sorinola, but only over the times I’ve seen him.

Going on loan to a club isn’t all about game time. For a youngster it’s also about experiencing being in and around the squad, understanding responsibility and roles within a group of athletes. Timekeeping and behaviour towards those in your peer group is the first thing any player should be aware of. Diet regime’s and training in certain ways is an education, as is the tactics employed by different managers. That’s all about learning. When West Ham sent Flex to Swansea they wanted all that and the opportunity for him to display his worth on the pitch.

Yesterday for the twenty minutes we saw him, for me, he did sufficient to warrant a first team start at Preston on Tuesday night. He looked positive and had the aggression to get forwards and add further complications to his opponents. Hopefully we will see even more of him at Deepdale on Tuesday, he is a game changer, and this is a game that will suit him down to the ground.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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