Despite seeing a loan away cut short due to a lack of playing time, Kenji Gorre is hoping to earn himself a chance with Swansea City's first team after returning to South Wales.

The young winger was granted just one start with ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie, as well as four appearances off the bench, and so the Swans opted to recall him from the loan last month, with it clearly having few benefits.

The struggles he encountered in the Netherlands have clearly not affected the player and his confidence though, as Gorre has this week stated that he is hoping for a first team chance under Francesco Guidolin.

Is youth the answer?

Swansea are having a surprisingly torrid season, with them languishing in 16th in the Premier League just one season on from their best ever.

Guidolin has tried several things since arriving to try and change the team's fortunes, but he has struggled in truth, with a mini-run of four games unbeaten coming to an end at the weekend against Southampton.

It's been out wide where criticisms have mainly been aimed, with Swansea lacking creativity on the flanks. Mo Barrow and Jefferson Montero have, surprisingly, been given few chances to change this, but could turning to some hungry youngsters, such as Gorre, solve the problem?

The 21-year-old had a flying season with the under-21 side last year and is clearly highly-rated at the Liberty, having signed a new deal in the summer.

Since returning, he has been training with the first team and has this week said, via the South Wales Evening Post, that his aim now is "to show the new gaffer what [he] can do" in order to "earn an opportunity to be involved" in his side.

With them needing some inspiration during a tough battle for safety, it would not be so much of a shock for Guidolin to try something new either.

Plenty learned in time away

Gorre also spoke about his time in the Netherlands to the publication, saying that a frustrating spell certainly had its benefits as it taught him a lot about football and helped him improve as a player.

"My chances were a little limited," he explained, with ADO bringing in "two experienced wingers" shortly after he arrived which meant he "didn't get to play as much as [he] would have liked." However, Gorre says he "learned a lot from [his] time there."

Gorre was given few chances at ADO. | Photo: NOS.nl
Gorre was given few chances at ADO. | Photo: NOS.nl

"I learned...about how they prepare for games and the way they played," he explained. The winger added that it was a "great experience" being around the first team "every day," being "involved" in games and playing in front of "big crowds" - all of which have helped him grow.

"I feel I have come back a better and stronger player," Gorre concluded, and he will hope that Guidolin sees the quality he has too.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]