Former Stoke City and Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis has spoken out on what he believes the main factor is behind Steve Cooper's impressive start to life at The Liberty Stadium with Swansea.

The Swans are currently sat fourth in the table after 16 games so far this season, following a 10th-placed finish under current Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter last campaign.

Swansea's star players Oli McBurnie and Daniel James departed for Premier League clubs in the summer and Cooper has had to adjust to life at The Liberty, but has managed to get misfiring forwards Andre Ayew and Borja Baston going in front of goal as well as bringing in consistent left-back Jake Bidwell during the summer and making academy product Joe Rodon a regular.

Pulis said: "I've been really impressed with Swansea.

"I think Steve has done a great job. He's kept the identity of the football club and the way the team plays.

"Their results and performances this season have been fantastic. I don't think anybody thought that Swansea would be as good at getting the results they have so far."

Cooper was hired in the summer after a successful spell working with the English FA, being in charge of the England under-16s before being promoted to the under-17s manager and going on to win the under-17 World Cup in 2017 with the likes of Rhian Brewster and Phil Foden in his squad.

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Pulis has had a successful career in club management having taken on the likes of Stoke City and Gillingham.

The Verdict

Cooper sticking to Swansea's philosophy of playing the ball on the ground and keeping possession has definitely helped him to settle into a side that has needed a bit of direction in the past few years.

The young manager has stuck to his morals and style from his England days and tweaked it slightly so that it works with Swansea, with many managers and pundits having credited the 39-year-old early on this season.