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Archived News from February 2018

STAGS SIGN ADAM KING ON LOAN FROM SWANSEA
1st February 2018 21:41


Stags capture talented Swansea midfielder
mansfieldtown.net, Mon 29 Jan 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has captured highly-rated Swansea City midfielder Adam King on loan until the end of the season.

The Stags’ manager has fought off interest from several League One clubs to sign the 22-year-old.

The Swans spotted King’s talents when he was a teenager with boyhood heroes Hearts and swooped to buy the versatile midfielder in 2014.

He has since enjoyed loan spells in League One, with Crewe Alexandra in 2015-16, scoring five goals in 26 appearances and Southend United the season after.

Upon his return to South Wales, King netted a hat-trick as Swansea beat Hertha Berlin 5-1 in the Premier League International Cup at the Liberty Stadium.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/stags-capture-swansea-midfielder/

King was a key player during an outstanding season for Swansea U23s last term, as they sealed a league and cup double.

He has represented his native Scotland at U18, U19 and U21 levels.

"Adam is hungry and he wants to be here. I couldn't be any happier; he's turned down three or four League One clubs to come to us,” said Stags’ boss Steve Evans.

“We tried to get him at the start of the window. I spoke to him for about half-an-hour on the phone and I was buzzing half-an-hour later when he said ‘we’d love to come to you guys’.

“He’s intelligent, can support and get a goal. He’s a young man who has chosen Mansfield Town in his continued education in football.

“He’s another addition who we look forward to working with,” added the manager.

King will be available for selection in our next match when we take on Barnet in Sky Bet League Two at One Call Stadium. Buy your tickets for the fixture here

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No pressure on new boy King says Stags boss Evans
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Steve Evans won’t be putting any unnecessary pressure on Swansea City midfielder Adam King, who was the first new face to arrive on loan this week.

But the Mansfield Town manager is excited by what the 22-year-old could bring and believes fans are going to like what they see.

“We are not going to make this young man anything he’s not or build expectation on him,” said Evans.

“We are just asking him to come in and enjoy his football for the next three or four months. If he does that he will play a part.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/no-pressure-on-new-boy-king-says-stags-boss-evans-1-8992446

“He is certainly a talented boy. He gets a goal and he can pass it. He’s going to learn here. “He has been in men’s football before both at Crewe and Southend.”

Evans has long been an admirer of the young Scot’s talents. “I first came across him up at Hearts and then I followed his progress. I thought he did well at Crewe and again at Southend,” he said. “It was an opportunity presented to us and we’re delighted to have taken it.” He is being signed as a midfielder, but King’s versatility could prove handy. “When I signed Paul Anderson I saw him playing wide right,” said Evans. “Since then he’s been up top, he’s been centre midfield, he’s been in the hole and he’s been right back and in every one of them he’s been very effective. “This young man can play right back. He can play centre midfield as a holding player like Joel Byrom. He can be like a Ben Whiteman-type, which is his more natural position, where he can go and work off the strikers, and he is a very accomplished No.10, technically very good as you’d expect anyone Swansea paid a significant, decent six figure sum for to be. “He has a number of positions. But we’ll just welcome him into the group and he will find his own little niche in our squad.” Evans was delighted to land King’s signature ahead of several League one clubs. “Sometimes I think if you are Scottish and the boy is Scottish it helps,” he smiled. “This young man is guided not only by his representatives, who are very good, but by his family as well. When you get involved with them it does make a difference. “I think he wanted to come somewhere where someone knew more about him than just seeing him in one or two games. “I’ve seen the kid at Crewe, Hearts and Southend as well as Swansea U23s, so I know quite a bit about him and can talk about specific games - not like some managers who talk about games he didn’t even play in! “It’s always nice when you know what you’re talking about as it gives you a chance. He added: “He is only young but he can make it (the ball) talk at times. “But I am not going to build him up. He’s just another little part of a jigsaw that hopefully comes together as we go forward in the season. “Now he’s got a shirt to earn. And it’s not easy as we have some top players here. “We didn’t need to add a player. We’re just trying to cover all the different scenarios that we may come across between now and the end of May. “He now has to earn his place within the group. He came in and trained yesterday and, straight away, I think the players were very comfortable in giving him the ball.”

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King relishing League Two battle
mansfieldtown.net

After putting pen-to-paper at One Call Stadium earlier this week, new loan signing Adam King is looking forward to the competitive nature of Sky Bet League Two and playing for three points every week.

The Scottish midfielder joined the Stags from Premier League side Swansea City on Monday and made his first appearance in a Stags' shirt in our Central League Cup win over Rotherham United yesterday, completing 45 minutes of the tie.

And speaking prior to the 3-2 victory over the Millers, the 22-year-old is now hoping to bolster his experience in senior football and get used to playing for points every week.

"The tempo's a lot higher [in the EFL] and for me personally, it's better being involved in something where you're playing for points, you're playing for wins every week and being amongst the boys who are all pushing in the same direction. It's going to be a great experience," the former Hearts man said.

"It's a great bunch of boys and I'm delighted to be a part of it.

"Coming here, there's no guarantees to play or anything like that. You've got to fight and earn your place to play and if you do play, you've got to keep the jersey. It's a big part of football and that's what I want to do and that's what I'm happy to do.

"You want to play every week and as a footballer, you want to develop and you've got to fight for places however best you can. Obviously the team's doing well, so I know it's going to be difficult to get into the team, but if a chance comes I'll be ready to take it."

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/king-relishing-league-two-battle/

The Edinburgh-born midfielder said he is looking forward to showcasing his talent during his time with the club and is excited at the prospect of a promotion push.

"After speaking to the gaffer (Steve Evans), he told me a lot of things about the club and the way that the club's going and I was delighted to get this opportunity to play here and hopefully get promotion as well.

"After speaking to the gaffer, I knew that the club was pushing in the right direction and they're sitting in a nice league position now. That's not only it, they're looking at pushing further than that and definitely securing a spot to go up.

"It's a good opportunity for me to come and show what I've got and hopefully it's a good loan spell for me.

"I think promotion would be good. Not just for me, but for the boys and for the club."

To watch Adam King's first club interview, login to iFollow Stags.

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King ready to fight for a Stags shirt
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Swansea City loanee Adam King knows there are no guarantees of a starting place in Mansfield Town’s current successful side, but the midfielder is happy to fight for one.

“Coming here, there are no guarantees I will play,” he said after signing yesterday. “You have to fight and earn your place and, if you do play, you’ve got to keep the jersey. It’s a big part of football.

“It makes you hungry as you want to play every week. “Obviously the team is doing well so I know it’s going to be difficult to get in, but if the chance comes I will be ready to take it.”

On joining Mansfield ahead of interested League One clubs, he said: “It was a great opportunity for me after speaking to the gaffer.

“He told me a lot of things about the club and the way it’s going and I was delighted to jump at the chance for this opportunity to play here and hopefully get promotion as well.

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/king-ready-to-fight-for-a-stags-shirt-1-8992506

“I knew the club is heading in the right direction. They are in a nice league position right now but are obviously looking at pushing further than that to secure a spot to go up.

“It’s a good opportunity for me to come and show what I’ve got, so hopefully it will be a good loan spell for me.” King continued: “I moved down to Swansea when I was 18 and I’ve had a couple of loan spells - it’s been a good experience for me down there. “Obviously now I am looking to get out there in the leagues and show what I’ve got. “It’s been good to play under different managers and different styles of football. “I won a trophy with Swansea U23s but the real football is here and I’m looking forward to getting started. On playing League Two football, he added: “The tempo is a lot higher and for me it’s better being involved in something where you’re playing for points and being among the boys, who are all pushing in the same direction. It’s going to be a great experience. “I know it’s competitive. I’ve been looking at the league table and there are a lot of teams on a similar number of points. I am happy coming into a competitive environment and I am ready for it.” On his playing style, he said: “I’ve got a lot of energy, I get around the pitch and like to get forward when I can and chip in with a few goals. Hopefully I can show that here. “I met the boys yesterday on my first day in and they are a great bunch, so I’m delighted to be a part of it. “I don’t mind going into a new dressing room as I’ve done it a couple of times before. It’s the game we play. You have to go in, do your best and just fit in as quick as you can. It’s not going to be hard here as the boys are very welcoming.”

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EARLIER STORY ABOUT ADAM KING:
16 MAY 2017
Who is Adam King? The lowdown on the Swansea City youngster whose brace sealed a league and cup double for the club's under-23s
The Scotland Under-21 cap scored twice to secure Premier League Cup glory

By Andrew Gwilym, 16 MAY 2017
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-adam-king-lowdown-swansea-13040711

It has been an outstanding season for Swansea City Under-23s.

Under the guidance of coaches Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack the young Swans added another piece of silverware to a glittering season by beating their Reading counterparts 2-0 in Monday's Premier League Cup final at the Liberty Stadium.

They had already secured the Premier League 2 Division 2 title, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the Checkatrade Trophy and the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup.

A number of players have stood out over the course of the season. Top scorer Oli McBurnie has racked up 23 goals, Daniel James's pace and trickery has lit up the Liberty, while the likes of captain Keston Davies and full-back Connor Roberts have impressed.

Against the Royals, it was midfielder Adam King who took the spotlight with two sharp finishes enough to seal cup glory.

Here, we take a look at the 21-year-old's background, and what he brings to Swansea City.

Where did he play previously?

King came through the age-grade ranks at Hearts in his native Edinburgh, and was quickly earmarked as a talented midfielder, who also had the ability to play at full-back when required.

Swansea made an offer for the then 17-year-old at the end of the 2013 summer transfer window, but were knocked back by the administrators at the helm of the Scottish club.

King went on to make his senior debut, shortly after turning 18, in November of that year as a substitute in a 7-0 Scottish Cup hammering at the hands of Celtic at Tynecastle.

He would face the Bhoys again when handed his first start in the SPL at Parkhead the following month, while also starting a 4-0 home defeat against Kilmarnock on Boxing Day.

Swansea submitted a new offer in January 2014, which was accepted, and King was on his way to the Liberty.

How has he fared since his arrival?

Adam King in action for Hearts
King was given time to settle into his new surroundings but regularly featured for the academy sides, impressing with his technical ability.
He has made just the solitary first-team outing, as a substitute in the 6-2 FA Cup third-round victory over Tranmere in January 2015, while helping the under-21 side win the Professional Under-21 Development League title.

He has been on loan against Crewe and Southend in the two seasons since, while he has international honours to his name with Scotland's Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 teams.

He made 26 appearances for Alexandra during the first half of the 2015-16 season, scoring five goals for a side that would end the season bottom of League One.

His spell at Southend this campaign proved less successful. King made just 11 appearances before the season-long loan deal was cut short at Swansea's request due to his lack of game-time.

He quickly re-established himself in the Swans set-up, scoring a hat-trick in the International Cup hammering of Hertha Berlin, plus his double in the cup final.

What sort of a player is he?

A bright and intelligent midfielder, with the ability to play in a central position or in a wide role.

King's brace against Reading in the Premier League cup final came in a game he started on the wing, but his movement for the two goals was nothing to do with width.

He came from out to in to beat his man and head James' cross into the net as half-time approached, and he then took up a narrow position to link with James and McBurnie for this second.

He could easily have had another hat-trick had he not snatched at a rebound in the second half.

He is a calm finisher, a good crosser of the ball, and a sharp and astute passer.

He does not have the pace of an out-and-out winger when played wide, but has the trickery to trouble defenders and the movement to take them into areas they would rather avoid. He also gets through more than his share of work, and he has a good engine.

So will he make the first-team breakthrough?

We will probably get a better idea next season, as King and several of his under-23 colleagues have had to bide their time while the first team have battled relegation.

Paul Clement felt it was not the right time to blood them, but pre-season will give them all a chance to stake a claim.

Midfield is a fiendishly competitive area, with Gylfi Sigurdsson, Leon Britton, Tom Carroll, Jack Cork, Ki Sung-Yueng and Leroy Fer among the options in that position.

Even if a couple of those players leave, it will still be a tough ask for King. He is a quality player who you feel would have the ability to be part of the first team, but at 21 he will want the chance to come sooner rather than later.

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Latest | February 2018