Scott Sinclair has won two England under-21 international caps

By David Dulin BBC Sport Wales

Scott Sinclair was tipped to have a promising future after rising through the ranks at Premier League champions Chelsea.

But the 21-year-old winger's career appeared to stutter during his first three years as a professional.

He managed just 14 appearances for Chelsea in that time and even struggled to play regularly at the six clubs where he was on loan.

Sinclair turned out 18 times in four months for Plymouth, then nine times in six weeks for Queens Park Rangers before managing only three substitute appearances for Charlton in a month.

Then followed two months at Crystal Palace playing eight times with another 14 at Birmingham City in four months and only four starts in 22 during a year at Wigan.

Thankfully for Sinclair, his youth team coach at Chelsea was current Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers.

And it is Rodgers who has gone on to bring the best out of pacy Sinclair at Swansea helping him become the Championship's joint top scorer with 16 goals.

A shrewd investment for a player who cost just £500,000 in August 2010 in a deal that could rise to a club-record £1m.

"All Scott ever needed was games," said Rodgers. "He was a big talent and he got into the Premier League as an 18-year-old.

"But it's very, very difficult to play at that level.

"He had the Premier League ability, but he didn't have the opportunity to get a sustained run of games so I had to convince him to come to here.

"Hopefully over the years he grew to trust me and how we work together. He's a great kid, he's very humble.

"He works hard and wants to get better. With the help of his team-mates, he's got 21 goals [in all competitions] and still looks very fresh.

Deep, deep down without being big-headed I thought I could have made it at Chelsea and I was good enough to be a Chelsea player but football's all about timing. Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair

"Moving here is not only good for his football, but it's a great life in Swansea."

Sinclair's goals have helped propel Swansea up to second in the Championship and his form also earned him a call up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 team.

And he knows he owes a lot to Rodgers.

"The gaffer has given me confidence by bringing me in and now I can just perform," said Sinclair.

"When I went on loan a few times I was low on confidence and you know you're not going to be there for the rest of the season and everything's up in the air.

"That was part of my decision to come down here - having a manager who knows you, knows how you play, how you work and stuff like that helps you.

"Deep, deep down without being big-headed I thought I could have made it at Chelsea and I was good enough to be a Chelsea player but football's all about timing.

"Sometimes it's not the right time for you and sometimes it is. By me getting games and playing week in week out goes to show what I can actually bring."

As well as believing second-place Swansea can reach the Premier League in May, Sinclair also has sights on finishing as the Championship's top scorer.

"It would be very nice to get the golden boot but the main priority is to get promoted," he said.

"If we can do that and I can get the golden boot then I think that would be the best season for me."

And with that would come the chance to play against Chelsea next season.

"That would be great playing against your old club," Sinclair added. "But that's far ahead and I just look on a game by game basis.

"The gaffer keeps us grounded and says we've still got a long way to go and there's a lot of points to be won.

"But if we can carry on playing like we did today then I'm sure we can be up there and have a great chance of getting promoted."

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