Coca Cola Championship
Coventry v Swansea Venue: Ricoh Arena Date: Saturday, 22 August 2009 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales SW & SE FM, Final Score & highlights on The Football League Show

Swansea defender Alan Tate has praised new manager Paulo Sousa for giving the club's young players a chance.

Winger Kerry Morgan made his full debut for the Swans on Tuesday while Casey Thomas and Jazz Richards have also been handed debuts under Sousa this season.

"It's great for the young lads," 26-year-old Tate told BBC Sport Wales.

"They didn't seem to be given chances under Roberto [Martinez] or Kenny [Jackett]. It's nothing against them, it's just the way they operated."

Wales international Joe Allen is the only trainee to have come through under the ranks and played regular first team football under those two managers.

The 19-year-old midfielder was given his break last season by Martinez following a midfield injury crisis and has held down a place under Sousa before injuring his hamstring.

Sousa has kept faith with first year professional goalkeeper David Cornell as number two to Dorus de Vries, after initially being installed towards the end of last season, but the Wales Under-21 international has yet to make a competitive start.

Cornell's fellow Wales U21 team-mate Shaun MacDonald was given his chance by Jackett in 2005 but has found himself in and out of the team, last year spending time on loan at Yeovil.

"When Roberto was here, I was in and out and it knocked my confidence a bit to be honest," said the 21-year-old midfielder.

"But as a professional footballer I've got to build on it now, keep working hard and hopefully get in the Swansea team."

MacDonald is naturally a central midfielder and can also play on the wing, but has been playing a different role under Sousa.

"I've been playing behind the striker which is a new position for me and I've got to learn and try to pick up that position," he added.

"I'll play anywhere if I've got the chance to play. I'll go out and try to enjoy it."

MacDonald will be hoping for a recall to the team for Saturday's visit to Coventry.

The Sky Blues, managed by Swansea-born Chris Coleman, have won two of their three opening league games, drawing the other with striker Clinton Morrison scoring three times.

And MacDonald is hoping some of the chances created in Swansea's 0-0 draw with Reading on Tuesday can be turned into goals, sealing a first league win for Sousa.

"It's just those chances because as soon as one goes in, we will be off the mark and will give the lads a bit of belief and we will go from there," said MacDonald.

"I think we can give Coventry a game on Saturday. We've obviously got to start picking up points but patience is the big word in football.

"We will keep going out, we will keep giving teams games, we keep creating chances and we will soon get goals and start getting points and getting wins."

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