After that pre-season blunder in the USA, this was the sort of confidence-boosting performance West Ham United loanee Kaelan Casey needed on his Swansea City debut.
Yes, the opposition was hardly stellar.
A fourth-tier Crawley Town outfit who had lost both of their opening League Two fixtures before travelling to South Wales for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup first-round clash.
But after captain Ben Cabango suffered an injury set-back during Saturday’s Championship opener, and in the midst of a difficult start to life at Swansea City for Cameron Burgess, young Kaelan Casey might just have given himself a shot at a starting role only one week after arriving on loan from West Ham United.
Hammers Under-21 boss Mark Robson is backing Casey to kick on after the 20-year-old outgrew the academy pond last season.
But as the West Ham youngster gifted Everton their opener during an eventual 2-1 comeback victory in Chicago – his pass easily intercepted before Idrissa Gana Gueye took full advantage – it was clear that Casey still had a lot to learn.
Hence, the decision to send him on loan to Swansea for the 2024/25 campaign. And presuming he can build on an eye-catching full debut for the Jack Army – albeit against teams two rungs up the EFL ladder – then Casey should return to his parent club a more mature, more confident footballer.
See Freddie Potts’ fabulous stint with Portsmouth last time out, for example.
Swansea City fans praise West Ham United loanee Kaelan Casey
Handed a 7/10 rating by Swansea Live, no player in Alan Sheehan’s starting XI won more aerial duels [eight] than Kaelan Casey.
And while his passing still needs some fine-tuning – he should improve in that department too in a side who tend to play possession football – Casey’s pure defensive instincts have made West Ham’s Under-21 captain an early favourite at the not-exactly imaginatively named Swansea.com Stadium.
“Kaelan Casey is a Rolls Royce,” one supporter wrote after watching the 20-year-old in action for the first time. “He’s so comfortable on the ball he’s making Burgess look a poor signing.
“He looks a class act,” another agrees. “Bags of potential. Going to be a big player for us this season.
“Good win for the swans. The performance was much better. Still improvements to be made but overall can’t complain. Casey was solid at the back and was very impressed with his debut.”
Casey outshines Cameron Burgess as Swansea progress in Carabao Cup
After the far more experienced Burgess again flattered to deceive – he played an unwitting role in Middlesbrough’s winner last weekend too – Casey may already be emerging as the favourite of the two newly-signed centre-backs.
Burgess’ natural left-footedness is likely to keep him in Sheehan’s XI for the time being, however. Casey, like captain Cabango, is more comfortable on his right.
“Burgess doesn’t look great on the ball, Casey does,” one more supporter writes on X.
“Obviously a caveat on the level of opposition but I’ve been impressed with Kaelan Casey.”
“Great performance from the Swans today. Well deserved win. Very attacking and a game that could’ve seen more goals. We’ll get there. [Ethan] Galbraith, Casey, Ronald, [Josh] Tymon and [Bobby] Wales. Stars of the show. Gave everything from start to finish.
“Casey, a good presence.”
“Kaelan Casey, you have moved me. Consider me impressed.”
“Kaelan Casey looks a great pickup. Calm, confident, loves a challenge.”
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