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 Curtis Obeng following Neil Taylor's Swansea footsteps 1 February 2012 BBC Sport Football  Curtis Obeng is hoping to emulate Neil Taylor and make
the successful step up four divisions from the Blue Square
Bet Premier to the Premier League. Swansea signed right-back Obeng, 22, from Wrexham on transfer deadline day on a three-and-a-half year deal. It is a route followed previously by Taylor, who left north Wales in 2010 and has blossomed into becoming first-choice left-back for Swansea and Wales. "He's a great player; with him already doing it, it helped a lot," Obeng said. "Because Swansea can obviously trust that they can bring a player like Neil or myself out of this league and are talented enough to be able to handle the big league.  "So for him to do what he's done has helped me massively."
Obeng revealed that Taylor had provided a glowing reference for his fellow full-back when asked by Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers about his suitability. "I spoke to him [Taylor] a couple of days ago, he just said he's had a chat with his manager and he's asking the questions what I'm like as a person, what I'm like to get on with, what I'm like to train with," Obeng added. "Just the usual stuff really and Neil's a great lad, he's put a good word in for me." Obeng, whose transfer is thought to have cost Swansea in the region of £200,000, came through the youth ranks at Manchester City but was released by the Premier League leaders in August 2009. The youngster admits he thought his chance to play top-flight football might have gone, but is eager to seize his second chance with both hands. "You do get knocked back and to go down and play in non-League, I did doubt whether it would come around again," Obeng said. "But I was told that if you work hard and you keep turning in performances then you will get noticed and you will get the chance to get back up there, and thankfully that has happened. "There was about four or five clubs interested... and obviously with Swansea being one of them they were top of the pile being a Premiership club. "I took it with a pinch of salt really but everything moved in the right direction and now I'm all signed up. "I'm delighted. It's a Premiership club and it's what you dream of growing up as a boy, so for me to finally get there it's a massive achievement and I'm just excited to hit the road running. "Everyone all over the country speaks about how they play, how they choose to play football and I think it's what many footballers want to be doing at their clubs. "They play it the right way, they pass the ball on the floor and they teach you the game in the right way and I'm just really excited to get going."
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