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Many Swansea City fans will have been fearing the worst for their side following the news that key defender Joe Rodon had been ruled out for up to three months through injury, with the academy graduate having formed a solid partnership with Mike van der Hoorn in defence. 

The 22-year-old centre back had struck up a brilliant understanding with the experienced Dutchman, with the Swans backline forming a big part of the good start they have made to this Championship campaign.

However the Liberty Stadium faithful needn't have worried, with 20-year-old defender Ben Wilmot coming in to fill the void superbly in recent weeks for the south Wales club.

The Watford loanee only arrived in Wales this summer, and after a slow start to his career in second division football, the youngster now has the chance to really make his mark and impress Steve Cooper.

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And Wilmot's patience has seemingly paid off so far, with the centre back having appeared in three successive league outings for the Swans, striking up a good early understanding with van der Hoorn so far.

Whilst the 20-year-old has also surprisingly found his goal scoring touch for the Welsh club, notching vital strikes against both Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday in recent games.

The Watford prospect provides a great stand-in for Rodon, as he is greatly adept at playing the ball out from the back, making him a brilliant option for the role of 'sweeper' in the Swansea backline, whilst van der Hoorn acts as a 'stopper'.

Despite not being the tallest of centre backs, Wilmot has a great spring in his legs, meaning that he is capable of winning aerial duels against more direct opponents.

The experience that van der Hoorn possesses will no doubt rub off on Wilmot, who is still learning his trade in professional football after coming through Stevenage's academy system, before his subsequent move to parent club Watford, where he has also largely played for their under-23 side.

Despite being largely inexperienced, the centre back has played at the top level of the game, turning out for Italian club Udinese on five occasions during a loan spell last season in Serie A, thus providing the youngster with a good learning curve in a differing environment from English football.

Despite plying his trade in Serie A, his game time was limited, meaning that his current spell with Swansea will almost certainly have a lasting effect on how he develops over the next few years of his career, as he bids to breakthrough at Vicarage Road.