Swansea City midfielder Lee Jenkins should be fit to face Exeter City after shaking off a minor knock. Jenkins was injured during the Swans' 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town but has made a swift recovery.

Experienced goalkeeper Roger Freestone is also likely to play and young midfielder Andrew Mumford, who is yet to play this season, has an outside chance of making manager John Hollins' squad. Injured strikers John Williams and Steve Watkin are out while on-loan forward Nathan Tyson should retain his place in the Swans attack.

Injury-hit Exeter City travel to Swansea with boss Noel Blake expecting to be without at least six first-team squad players. Paul Buckle, Dylan Kerr, Stuart Fraser, Jay Richardson, Paul Read and Sean McCarthy missed last week's 2-2 draw with Luton through injury and are unlikely to figure.

But Blake has added new striker Cherif Diallo to his squad for the trip to Wales. Former Scarborough striker Diallo has been signed after impressing Blake in pre-season friendlies.

JOHN Cornforth was back in Swansea for pleasure last weekend, tomorrow he returns on business.

Having been to see family seven days ago, the Vetch Field hero this time brings his Exeter City side for the crunch Third Division clash with Swansea City.

It won't be the first time the former Swans skipper has been back at the Vetch since leaving for Birmingham in March 1996.

He played for Peterborough when they won 1-0 in 1999 and was on the receiving end with Exeter as Swansea sealed promotion in style last year.

This time will be a little different though, as the 33-year-old won't be playing.

Cornforth was forced to retire at the end of last season because of a persistent calf problem and was appointed assistant manager to Noel Blake.

"I'm gutted not to be playing at the Vetch again, but I am really looking forward to coming back," he said.

"I actually come back to Swansea quite a lot because my mother and father-in-law live there and I love the place anyway.

"Returning in the past has been nice for me because I've had a great reception from the fans. Hopefully there will be a big crowd there tomorrow and it'll be the same again.

"It will also be nice to see a few old mates — I still keep in touch with some of the boys like Roger Freestone."

No doubt Cornforth will be given a hero's welcome from the North Bank faithful, who remember the six good years he spent as the dominant force in Swansea's midfield.

The Whitley Bay-born player scored 18 goals in 193 games for the Swans and led the side to victory at Wembley in the 1994 Autoglass Trophy final.

But once the pleasantries are out of the way, Cornforth's bottom-of-the-table side will go all out for their first victory of the new campaign.

"We have not had the best of starts, but we have been struggling badly with injuries.

"That causes problems when you have no money to work with — everyone in our squad came on a free transfer.

"But we have to make do with what we've got."

He added: "We were decent against Luton last week and hopefully we can carry on from there.

"It's always tough to go to the Vetch, but we have to fancy our chances as we do in every game. If we don't, there's no point playing."

SWANSEA City boss John Hollins has fond memories of Exeter City at Vetch Field — and he doesn't want them ruined tomorrow.

Last time the Grecians were in Swansea, in April 2000, Hollins's side cruised to a 3-0 victory in the sunshine to seal promotion from Division Three.

Tomorrow, Hollins wants a first home win of this season to kick-start what he hopes will be another fruitful campaign in the Nationwide League basement.

"A repeat of Exeter's last visit to the Vetch would be nice," he said.

"We need to start picking up points at home if we are going to do anything in this division.

"A win tomorrow and another one at Plymouth on Tuesday is what we are hoping for. Six points would be exceptional."

Loan-signing Nathan Tyson is likely to make his debut for Swansea, though the pacy striker may not make the starting 11.

Stuart Roberts has returned fully fit from international duty and Frenchman Mamady Sidibe is also available.

"Nathan has got to know the boys and did well in the friendly at Cardiff last week," added Hollins.

"And the international players have all come back looking sharp and raring to go.

"With a healthy squad, hopefully we'll get another boost from a good crowd and we'll do the job."

Jason Smith, who had targeted tomorrow's game for his return from a long-term ankle ligament injury, has suffered another setback and could be out for another three weeks. Steve Watkin and Damian Lacey are also out.

Andrew Mumford has recovered from his ankle problems and comes back into contention, though John Williams (foot) is doubtful.

Bottom-of-the-table Exeter are also suffering with injuries - ex-Swan Kwame Ampadu is unlikely to feature - but they could include new French striker Cherif Diallo, once of Monaco.

Noel Blake's side are desperate for points having picked up just two from five games so far. They have conceded 12 goals and scored only four.

"Everyone needs to start somewhere, lets hope they do not start winning against us," said Hollins. "There are a lot of teams not doing well at the moment but it doesn't mean that much."

Swansea, from: Freestone, Howard, Jenkins, Bound, Todd, O'Leary, Romo, Cusack, Mazzina, Keegan, Phillips, Coates, Roberts, Appleby, Mumford, De-Vulgt, Sidibe, Tyson, Williams, Jones.

Exeter, from: Van Heusden, McConnell, Watson, Campbell, Curran, Power, Zabek, Cronin, Barlow, Roberts, Breslan, Flack, Birch, Roscoe, Walker, Tomlinson, Moor, Diallo.

Senegal-born Frenchman Cherif Diallo's chances of making his Exeter City debut tomorrow hinge on the arrival of international clearance — from the Greek Football Association.
The globetrotting goalscorer has agreed to play for the Grecians for free in the hope of eventually earning a full-time contract at St James's Park.
Diallo signed for City on Wednesday with the aim of forcing his way into Noel Blake's squad for tomorrow's trip to Swansea.

Defender Jason Smith has been told he can move his training up a gear, but he is still not ready to make a first-team return. Smith has not played this season after having a summer operation to remove "floating debris" from an ankle injury.

He visited a Bristol specialist this week and has been told he is closer, although not close enough, to making a return to competitive football.

Physio Richie Evans said: "The doctor was pleasantly surprised with Jason's rate of progress, but it'll be a few weeks yet until he's in the running again.

"He and the club would love it to be sooner, but we can't risk any recurrence of the problem."

Reserves in action

Winger Ryan Casey is hoping to get his first taste of action since January tonight when the reserve team travel to Porthcawl for a friendly.

The Republic of Ireland international was sidelined after a crude challenge by Reading's Graeme Murty in the LDV Trophy game at The Vetch which has left him with ligament damage.

Casey has since undergone two operations, but is aiming to play at least 30 minutes of tonight's game, saying: "It's been a long road back, but I can't wait to get out there again."

Other players with first-team experience likely to appear tonight are Michael Keegan and Andrew Mumford.

Former Swan becomes manager

Former Swans forward Paul Raynor has moved into management as boss of Doc Martens League Premier Division side Hednesford.

The club were relegated last year from the Conference, but are believed to have made funds available for Raynor, who played at The Vetch under managers Ian Evans, Terry Yorath and Frank Burrows.

WINGER Ryan Casey will return to action after nearly nine months on the sidelines when Swansea City meet Porthcawl Town in a friendly tonight (6pm) .

The 22-year-old Irishman has been out since January with medial ligament problems but will be part of an inexperienced side at Locks Lane.

Also included will be utility man Andrew Mumford, though Jason Smith will not be involved.

The central defender, confirmed as a target by Cambridge United last week, had hoped to return to the first team this week but has not recovered from an ankle operation.

"He's still a few weeks away yet. It's frustrating for Jason and the club but we have to make sure things are right," said physio Richard Evans.

Meanwhile, ex-Swansea goalkeeper Alex Davies has joined Third Division rivals Rushden & Diamonds on a three-month contract. Davies, 18, was released by John Hollins in July.

A young lad and his soccer-mad dad have helped out the Swansea City Supporters Trust by buying back a treasured item of soccer memorabilia they donated.

Generous 12-year-old Geraint Bater, of Gibbons Way in North Cornelly, gave his prized Swans football boots to be auctioned at the Trust's launch last Monday.

Swans manager John Hollins gave Geraint the boots after the team's play off semi-final defeat against Scunthorpe in 1999.

But Geraint and dad Stephen put their heads together and decided the boots might be a money spinner for the Trust, which is aiming to raise enough money to buy into the troubled club and get a fan on the board of directors.

Stephen said: "We had a discussion about it and said we may as well do it.

"But I didn't want him to lose the boots, so I had to buy them back."

Stephen's wallet is now £80 lighter after fierce bidding for the boots at the Patti Pavilion last week.

But the Swans season ticket holder, who only missed three games last season, said: " Even my wife understood why I had to do it!"

Cambridge boss John Beck has admitted £100,000-rated Jason Smith is a target, saying "he is one of a number of defenders we have looked at".

The Swans centre-half is currently sidelined with ankle ligament damage and has not played a game since last March. But that has not stopped U's chief Beck from considering a swoop for the 27-year-old as he looks to bolster his defence at the Abbey Stadium.

City chairman Mike Lewis said: "We're no different to any other club in that if a substantial offer came in we'd have to consider it.

"Having said that, offers have come in which we've turned down - we're trying to build something here."

Lewis slams talk of receivership

Chairman Mike Lewis has dismissed speculation that The Swans are set to fall into receivership as "a scare story." After revealing that the club needs crowds of 5,000 to break even, Lewis said: "To ensure finances are okay for the remainder of the season we need to find investors, but that's looking all right at the moment.

"I'd like to think I can announce a major investor in a month but we're currently going through the process of due diligence there."

The City supremo added that he hoped the newly-formed Supporters' Trust could raise the £140,000 needed to earn themselves a seat on the board.

Cusack backing boss

Skipper Nick Cusack has backed John Hollins to lead The Swans back into the Second Division. City were relegated last term after finding the step up from the Third Division tough going but Cusack reckons the side are equipped to bounce straight back up next May.

He said: "Last season we possibly didn't appreciate how good some of the other teams were, and we were punished everytime by quick and clinical finishing.

"I've worked under Kevin Keegan, Brian Horton, Ray Wilkins and Mickey Adams in the past, and John is certainly the best of the lot.

"The others are all superb managers and I got on well with all of them, but John's style is the one I've been most at home with and is the style I'd look to use if I ever became a manager."

John Hollins was impressed at the displays of several young players, including new-boy Nathan Tyson, in Friday's friendly defeat by Cardiff.

With neither side in league action due to international call-ups, Hollins used the specially arranged game to give some of his younger players a run out and experiment with his line-up.

Despite the one-goal defeat, Hollins confirmed the game had been a worthwhile event. He told the club's official website: "The score was not an issue in the game. The whole purpose was to keep the players active, and that's what we have done.

"We have seen a bit of what the new-boy Nathan can do, and he impressed. Andrew Mumford has showed up well after injury. Also young Simon Cole had a good game in goal, he certainly wasn't overawed to be up against some expensive players."

Trio play part in Wales draw

Stuart Roberts, Gareth Phillips and Leigh DeVulgt all played as the Wales Under-21 side was held to a 1-1 draw by Armenia on Friday night.

Despite being held at at Merthyr Tydfil, it was a great result for Jimmy Shoulder's side as they halted a run of seven straight defeats.

Wales took the lead against the run of play just before the half-time break through captain Rhys Day, who converted a penalty after Roberts was bundled over in the box.

But the visitors dominated proceedings in the second-half and were duly rewarded with a deserved equaliser on 68 minutes. Phillips and DeVulgt were both second-half substitutes, but were unable to help Wales claim their first victory in 22 games.