Steve Cooper says he's delighted with the progress of Paul Arriola, but admits the American winger is not yet ready for a place in his Swansea City starting line-up.

Arriola has made just two league appearances for the Swans since arriving on loan from DC United in January, both of which have come from the bench, but is clearly in firmly Cooper's plans for the coming weeks.

The player himself is clearly keen to muscle his way into the first team picture, recently admitting he has has no intention of simply making up the numbers, and is determined to play a big part in Swansea's promotion push.

But despite heavy defeats at the hands of Huddersfield Town and Bristol City prompting questions over fatigue in Cooper's squad, it seems the American is still working his way up to speed.

However, Cooper insists he's delighted by the 26-year old's attitude and progress on the training ground, and has suggested a place in his starting XI might not be too far away.

"You hope that every player has the mindset that they’re not here to make up the numbers," Cooper said.

"It’s slightly different with Paul because he’s come straight from an off-season.

"He had a week or so with the national team, but it’s not often that you have only a few weeks training and then start starting games in your domestic campaign.

"So, like we were doing with Jordan [Morris]. We have a separate programme going on to try and get him up to speed. It’s probably not the ideal thing at this time of the season, but that’s where we’re at.

"But we know he’s a really good player. He’s a good guy and as soon as we think he’s available to start games and he trains well enough and is having an impact then maybe there will be some starts in the future."

Arriola was one of two MLS imports to link up with the Swans in January, joining Seattle Sounders winger Jordan Morris in South Wales.

Morris, of course, saw his stint in SA1 cruelly ended by an ACL injury in that defeat to Huddersfield, and has since returned across the Atlantic to his parent club, where he was yesterday greeted by some of his team-mates as the Sounders returned to pre-season training.

“It was great to see him with his teammates; it adds a good vibe to the training session.” head coach Brian Schmetzer said. “It’s an unfortunate injury to one of our best players.”

The outpouring of support shown by his team-mates is a testament to Morris' popularity in the dressing, as well as his abilities on the pitch, and that presence may well be missed back in west Wales.

Indeed, in an ideal world, US team-mate Arriola would have surely preferred Morris to stay and help him settle in at the Liberty Stadium.

But Cooper insists there are no concerns over his progress so far, and says he's been struck by the American's work-rate on the training ground.

"They’re big boys," he continued. "They’re not kids. They’re settled down with their families and things like that, so I’m sure they didn’t need each other too much to settle in. Maybe they would’ve preferred each other to be here, but that isn’t the case.

"But the life of a footballer now, especially an international footballer is that you’re always on the move and you’re always being with different people, different dressing rooms and you have to make sure your personality takes over and that you settle in.

"As I said. Paul’s a good guy. He trains well, trains hard and he’s really trying to buy in and understand how we’re working and what we do.

"He’s doing his best to get up to speed."