Earl Davis hopes the well-trodden path from Burnley to South Wales will lead him away from the football wilderness. The powerhouse central defender has just completed week one of a month-long trial which could dictate whether he has a long-term future in the professional game.

And the 20-year-old Mancunian admits he is desperate to follow ex-Clarets Brad Maylett and Lenny Johnrose to Vetch Field after a woeful 2003.

"I had been at Burnley for eight years and it was a bit of a nightmare to leave," Davis explained.

"I joined the club as a kid, then did a three-year scholarship and then last season I was a first-year professional.

"In April I found out I had a hole in my knee cartilage and then I was told I could leave in May.

"It was a nightmare for me, especially after I'd been at the club so long."

And so Davis set out on the route to fitness not knowing what the future would hold.

He stayed on at Turf Moor receiving treatment until a couple of months ago, then began the search for a new club.

Enter Brian Flynn, who had liked the look of Davis, just as he had Maylett, when helping out at his old club Burnley following his departure from Wrexham in 2001.

"I spent some time working with Brian Flynn so he knows what I can do," he added.

"Hopefully if I can show him that I've still got it in the next few weeks then I might get a chance.

"It's an encouraging sign for me that Brad and Lenny are already at Swansea doing well."

A former youth team skipper and occasional reserves captain at Burnley, Davis has also had spells on loan at Stalybridge and Southport.

The 6ft 1in youngster believes the experience of first-team football in the Conference has served him well, just like the senior professionals who acted as mentors during his stint under Stan Ternent.

"Mitchell Thomas (the ex-Tottenham defender) was a big influence on me," he added.

"Then there was Steve Davis, who is now at Blackpool, and Ian Cox, who went to Gillingham last summer.

"And latterly (former Manchester United star) David May helped me a lot. He was injured at the same time as me and helped me get through it."

Davis continued: "Knowing I was coming down to Swansea, I played a couple of games for Southport over Christmas so I could get my match fitness up.

"Now I just hope that I can do enough to stay on.

"Brad loves it down here, and I've settled in well so far.

"The two games I've been to were superb and I'm just keeping fingers crossed that I can be involved for Swansea some time soon."

Just when they don't want to be reminded of late goals, Cheltenham come to Vetch Field next week to face Lee Trundle. Trundle broke hearts at Whaddon Road on the second Saturday of the season when he completed a remarkable 27-minute hat-trick in injury time to settle a seven-goal thriller.

On that day Cheltenham, then under the managership of Bobby Gould, more than deserved a share of the spoils against Brian Flynn's men after going 2-0 up and then 3-1 ahead before Trundle's late strike.

It was heartbreak again for the Robins last week when they once more did enough to earn a draw, this time against Premiership Fulham in the FA Cup third round.

Louis Saha was the one who ended their dreams of a lucrative replay with a last-minute winner to add to his earlier goal after Grant McCann had given John Ward's side the lead at Loftus Road.

And Ward, speaking before his team took on fellow strugglers Southend at home last night, was full of praise for his players.

''I thought the discipline of the team and the way we tried to go about it was absolutely first class,'' he said.

''Their attitude and desire to work hard for themselves, the team and the football club was pretty evident.

''But we have been trying to do that over the short period of time I've been together with them and in the last three games we have been able to manage a very good level of performance.

''I have to work hard mentally with my team now to try and make sure there is something beginning to happen at Cheltenham Town.

''Hopefully this is just the start of it and if we can continue to show the type of attitude we showed against Fulham then this football club and team will improve, which is my initial job.''

Of the FA Cup tie itself, Ward said it was just Fulham's experience that saw them through in the end.

''I feel very much for my players and the large number of people who supported us.

''I think they will be pleased with what they have seen but in the cold light of day we snatched a bit at the last 10 minutes.

''Perhaps we could see the replay coming and the corner came from that, a snatched clearance. There is disappointment but a lot of very good things I hope for us to look forward to as well.

''I was really pleased with the number of efforts at goal we had and the number of times we got into the last 30 yards of Fulham's defensive area. ''There were some senior performances out there and there is no question they will keep going.

''It was very disappointing but that's the game. It would have been great to have a replay but people like Saha come up with the goods when you need them.

''You don't put these guys away easily because they are exceptional players and keep going even when they are up against it.''

Flynn must be hoping that Ward will be saying the same sort of things come 5pm next Saturday as Swansea look to keep their promotion bid on track.

Vetch Field legend Alan Curtis is hoping to line up a game against Leeds United after being honoured with a testimonial. The Swansea City board have decided to award Curtis for his loyalty to the club and the ex-Welsh international, who played 395 games for Swansea in three spells after signing on as a professional in 1972, is hoping that a game against another of his old sides will bring in the crowds at the Vetch.

Curtis has also taken on the roles of director of football in the community - the post he holds now - youth team coach and assistant manager during his near 25-year association with the Swansea.

Vice-chairman Leigh Dineen said the board decided it was time some recognition was given to Curtis for his unwavering support for Swansea.

''It will be recognition not only for what he did as a player at the club, but for all the other things he has done in his time here,'' said Dineen.

''Everybody involved with the club realises just how much Alan has done over the years and I am sure whenever we have a match they will show their gratitude by coming through the turnstiles in their thousands.''

Curtis said there was no date set for the game but hoped that Leeds, who have agreed in principal to play the game, will be able to make it.

If he cannot get the Elland Road side, then he may turn his attentions to Southampton, where he spent three seasons.

''It all depends on what happens at the end of this season,'' he said.

''Hopefully, we can get a game just after that, but it looks more likely it could be just before next season.

''I don't think Leeds have been down here in a competitive game since the opening day of the 1981 season when we beat them 5-1.

''If it does come off,then it would evoke some good memories.

''I just want to thank the board for granting me the testimonial.''

One of Curtis's protegees from his first spell as football in the community coach, defender Richard Duffy, has been offered terms by Premiership outfit Portsmouth.

The 18-year-old defender and his agent Wayne Elsey met the South Coast club's chief executive Peter Storrey on Thursday for initial talks on a possible move.

Elsey would not go into details of what was offered by the Premiership strugglers, but confirmed that one had been made.

''We met Peter Storrey and he told us about plans for the future at the club, which included moves for younger players,'' he said.

''Richard was made an offer which we are now be deliberating over.

''At this present time, he is still a Swansea City player.''

Swansea have already have turned down one bid from Portsmouth and have not heard anything further.

Dineen said: ''We gave Richard permission to talk to Portsmouth and hopefully our chairman Huw Jenkins will sit down with Richard, his father and Wayne sometime this weekend.
''We gave him the opportunity and now it's up to him to come back with his thoughts.''

HARSH reality dawned on Swansea's prospects of automatic escape from Division Three as goals from Danny Swailes and Jon Daly derailed their bandwagon in Greater Manchester.

A trip to Lancashire in mid-winter is usually a gloomy affair, and so it proved with Richard Duffy dismissed 14 minutes from time for a two-footed tackle that floored Tom Kennedy.

The Bury wing-back was left writhing on the deck as Wirral ref Mike Dean rightly raised the red card - this in an attempt to head defuse an ugly 18-man ruck of furious players.

But the bedlam became all the more significant later on when the Swans realised highly-rated Duffy, wanted by Premiership Portsmouth and Division One Cardiff City, will now miss his club's mouth-watering FA Cup fourth round home tie with either Preston or Reading on January 24.

The 18-year-old is in line for a five-match ban. As one reporter observed later, the £400,000-rated defender might well have played his final game for Swansea - particularly with Pompey chief Harry Redknapp having offered him a bumper contract on Thursday.

It was double agony for Swansea manager Brian Flynn who appeared embarrassed his slackers had hoisted up the white flag and gift-wrapped Bury's win - this after eight straight defeats.

On Duffy, he stormed: "The boy has an edge, but he produced a two-footed challenge - need I say more?"

And on the team, he ranted: "This was easily our worst display for over 12 months - we never got off the team bus. Players in our side had quiet games - even Lee Trundle, he didn't have a shot!"

Top scorer Trundle was substituted late on as James Thomas left the bench. Roberto Martinez came on as sub too but nothing lifted the drab Swans.

As Flynn said: "If we have genuine hopes of promotion, you have to win at places like Bury. We looked a top side against Oxford last Tuesday, but a bottom one today."

Yet Swansea suffered disruption before kick-off with injured Brad Maylett and Michael Howard dropping out - winger Kieron Durkan and left back Stuart Jones coming in.

Flynn's men were seeking their first win on the road for 10 weeks. But any reward would do for struggling Bury.

Shakers caretaker boss Graham Barrow, desperate for a positive result, made a series of alterations as Dave Challinor, Lee Connell, Chris Porter and Tom Kennedy came into a 3-5-2 format. Emerson, Lake and Palmer's classic Fanfare for the Common Man, the music regularly associated with space exploration, greeted the teams - appropriate, as the Gigg Lane surface resembled the Moon.

On-loan Stockport defender Challinor's legendary long throws were clearly going to be a threat to the Swans, but it was Bury who rocked early on. Lee Trundle saw his free-kick hacked clear by Colin Woodthorpe before the visitors pieced together a gem 60 seconds later.

Flame-haired Durkan powered past Kennedy before squaring to Andy Robinson. The ex-Tranmere player produced a sweet pirouette - his fierce 25-yard special extending the flying Glyn Garner.

But Bury almost caught Swansea with a clutch of counters in the minutes that followed. Lenny Johnrose's challenge halted Connell deep in the box.

Terry Dunfield then turned Richard Duffy but the midfielder's astute ball was poked past a post by Porter.

Kris O'Leary's brave tackle then stopped Jon Daly in his tracks before big Welshman Garner made stunning stops from Durkan and Robinson.

But the Shakers were rubbishing their appalling form as the interval loomed.

Giant destroyer Danny Swailes' blistering 12-yard drive smashed against the crossbar angle.

The former Gainsborough man sent a bicycle kick over moments later and Porter should have done better from point-blank range in stoppage time. Swansea's Roger Freestone was thwarting the 20-year-old former university student early into the re-start but the former Wales international was fishing the ball out of his net on 63 minutes. Glenn Whelan's left-side corner proved deadly as Porter touched on for Swailes to pummel home.

It was no more than the hosts deserved, although the Swans' main threat Robinson saw another dipping free-kick finger-tipped to safety by Garner.

Duffy went on 76 minutes, but the fat lady's melodic tones had drifted across the stadium well before that. And when Swailes' ball sprung Swansea's feeble offside trap for Daly to score on 86 minutes it just about summed things up.

ROBERTO MARTINEZ reveals today the story behind his arrival in Britain as one of the 'Three Amigos' - as he prepares for an emotional reunion with the man who first brought him here.

Martinez explained how he was persuaded to swap the Spanish sunshine for the rain of northern England as he prepares for his long-awaited comeback in Swansea City's Third Division clash at Bury.

The influential Spanish midfielder hopes to finally put an end to a five-month injury nightmare today by making a surprise return against the struggling Shakers.

And it will be a particularly poignant affair for Martinez at Gigg Lane as he comes face to face with Graham Barrow, the man who introduced him to British football back in 1995.

Barrow, currently caretaker manager at Bury, made a treble swoop for Martinez and compatriots Isidro Diaz and Jesus Seba while at Wigan.

Dubbed The Three Amigos, Martinez and co became the first Spanish players to arrive in Britain and the first to be recruited under the Bosman free transfer ruling.

Nine years on and Martinez recalls in detail the circumstances in which he was persuaded to swap famous Spanish club Real Zaragoza for unglamorous Wigan.

"What happened was Dave Whelan, the Wigan owner and the man behind the JJB Sports chain, came over to Spain in the pre-season to open a couple of shops in Zaragoza," explained the 30-year-old.

"Dave thought it would be a good idea to also send Graham out there as it would be a chance to do some scouting.

"So Graham came along to watch a cup match in which I, Diaz and Seba were playing for a Zaragoza B team against Las Palmas.

"It was one of the Las Palmas players - Juan Carlos Valeron - he was most interested in signing.

"But Las Palmas were not willing to let him go, which is a shame because he went on to become a top player with Athletico Madrid and Deportivo.

"So instead, Graham turned his attentions to the three of us, had a long chat with us after the match and said, 'How do you fancy coming over to England?'

"A short while after we met Dave and though both he and Graham seemed very kind people, at the time I was just 22 and it was a massive decision.

"And what did I know about English football? I was aware of the Premier League and the top clubs like Liverpool and Man United, but that was about it.

"As for Wigan, well I didn't know anything about the place - other than the fact a lot of rugby was played there!

"But Wigan invited us to spend a week with them to see if we liked it in England, and we decided to go for it.

"And, after just one week, even though the Third Division was a bit of a culture shock compared to what we were used to in Spain, we just knew we had to stay.

"Everything about the club felt right. Dave had huge ambition to take the club all the way to the top and there was a new stadium on the way.

"Do you know what made us feel most at home? Dave treated us all like sons. And, to this day, Graham and I remain the best of friends."

Martinez proved to be the most popular of the three Spaniards and went on to make almost 200 league appearances in six years with the Latics, helping them win the Third Division championship in 1997.

Ironically, though, Barrow lost his job at Wigan just three months after signing Martinez and went on to manage Rochdale and Chester.

Last month he took charge at Bury following the dismissal of Andy Preece, but he has been unable to prevent the Shakers suffering a disastrous run of defeats.

However, former Motherwell and Walsall star Martinez believes his old friend is the right man to revive the club's fortunes.

"Graham's a winner - he doesn't know failure," he said. "If there is anyone I'd expect to turn things round for Bury it is Graham. He's the kind of manager they need.

"But as much as I hope he does get things back on track and, though I'm looking forward to catching up with him again, I won't be doing him any favours in this match. I can't wait to be back and help Swans back up the table."

With Lenny Johnrose struggling with a hamstring problem, Martinez is in line to make his first appearance since the 1-0 win at Rochdale on October 25.

And Leon Hylton comes in for left-back Michael Howard, another hamstring victim, as Swansea aim for a win that could lift them to sixth.

Lee Trundle has been rewarded for his two-goal show in Swansea's 2-1 FA Cup win over Macclesfield by being voted player of the third round, with an overwhelming 56 per cent of the poll.

GRAHAM BARROW revealed how Roberto Martinez went three weeks pretending he couldn't speak a word of English.

Former Wigan boss Barrow recalled the tale as he explained what he first saw in the Swansea City midfielder and why he decided to bring him to Britain from Spain in 1995.

"The one thing I always remember about Roberto was he didn't let on he could speak English until he'd been with us for about three weeks!" said the Bury caretaker manager.

"One of the three Spaniards we signed genuinely couldn't speak English so we got this YTS lad who spoke Spanish to interpret for us - turned out we didn't need him.

"It seemed Roberto had spent the first few weeks assessing the situation in silence. Good job I hadn't ripped into him!"

Barrow, who took over from Andy Preece at Bury last month and has also managed at Chester and Rochdale, said the current Swans captain turned out to be one of the best signings he has ever made.

Explaining how it came about, Barrow said, "Dave Whelan (Wigan owner) was in Spain on business, but I went out there separately to watch a Real Zaragoza match - very refreshing considering I did most of my scouting in places like Runcorn.

"When I first saw Roberto I knew he was something special. As I sat watching the match, I was amazed at his passing and vision.

"I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered afterwards that he was available on a free transfer.

"We had a long chat, via a translator, and he and the other two lads eventually agreed to give it a go at Wigan.

"We got them over in pre-season and I can tell you they were the fittest three players at the club. They had such a professional attitude.

"And Roberto went on to be a big success at Wigan. I left just a few months after he joined and it remains one of my biggest regrets that I couldn't work with him for longer.

"Not only has he been a big success in Britain, he's a real gentleman. A great ambassador and someone who I think has the makings of a good coach."

Reunited at Gigg Lane this afternoon, Martinez and Whelan are both chasing three points for contrasting reasons.

Swansea need a win to keep their promotion campaign on course while Bury - who got to the play-offs last season - are desperate to avoid getting sucked into a relegation fight this time around.

"It's always a pleasure to see Roberto but, with a bit of luck, he won't have too much to smile about during the match," said Barrow, who hopes the arrival of Stockport defender Dave Challinor on loan will help lift his faltering side.

Swansea striker Lee Trundle has scooped The FA Cup ‘Player of the Round’ Award after fans voted in our on-line poll which attracted 40,000 votes.

Lee was one of three players shortlisted for the prestigious award, run in partnership with UMBRO.

He polled 55% of the votes registered in just five days, following last weekend’s FA Cup third round proper, beating Telford keeper Chris Mackenzie and Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer.

The Swans hotshot bagged an impressive brace in his teams 2-1 victory at home to fellow Third Division side, Macclesfield Town. He opened his account with a well-taken half-volley just before the break and struck again in the second half with a well taken free kick from the edge of the box.

Taking his tally in all competitions this season to 18, the stocky striker has earned his side a money-spinning home tie with First Division opposition in the shape of Reading or Preston. This will be the first time Swansea have reached the 4th round of the competition since 1998.

Trundle, who wins £1500 worth of UMBRO football kit and equipment for a school, club, or organisation of his choice said: "It’s a real achievement to be pitched against such a great player in Kieron Dyer and a real FA Cup hero in Chris Mackenzie and still come out the winner. It’s also an honour to be given this award for my performance in such a prestigious competition as the FA Cup. Thanks to all the supporters for voting for me on the FA website."

Lee also wins an UMBRO kit player package including XAI boots and training gear, as well as an engraved silver salver.

SWANSEA'S former Chorley and Stalybridge Celtic striker Lee Trundle has been identified as the chief threat to Bury as they look to avoid a ninth successive defeat.

Caretaker boss Graham Barrow said: "I spoke to John Askey after Macclesfield played Swansea last week and he said Trundle was the difference between the teams.

"I know a team is more than just one player but he does score some outstanding goals. I remember seeing him at Chorley and he had lots of ability but I didn't think his career would take off like it has."

Barrow has been hunting for a new central defender this week and reckons to have a "50-50" chance of landing his target.

Lee Unsworth (hernia) is doubtful though Joe O'Neill may be fit after his recent ankle problem.

On-loan Stockport County striker Jon Daly will make his home debut.

When the sides met on the opening day of the season Bury conceded three late goals and lost 4-2.

LAST SEASON: Bury 3 Swansea 2

KEY OPPONENT: Lee Trundle - is scoring goals for fun at the moment.

PREDICTION: Bury 1 Swansea 2

BETFRED:

Bury 15/8 Draw 9/4 Swansea 6/5

Correct Score
Bury To Win
1-0 7/1
2-0 14/1
2-1 11/1
3-0 40/1
3-1 25/1
3-2 28/1

1st/Last Goalscorer In Match
Seddon 6/1
Nugent 13/2
Porter 7/1
O'Neil 7/1
Duxbury 17/2
Singh 11/1
Clegg 11/1
Connell 20/1

Preece & Bury 1-0 45/1
Seddon & Bury 2-0 75/1
Nugent & Bury 3-1 110/1

Watford's Sean Dyche could be on his way to Swansea City just days after facing Eidur Gudjohnsen and Adrian Mutu in the FA Cup. The 32-year-old centre-back was one of the Hornets' heroes as the First Division strugglers held moneybags Chelsea to a 2-2 draw last weekend.

But the former Millwall defender, whose Watford contract expires this summer, has since been told he can talk to other clubs about a move away from Vicarage Road.

And Swansea boss Brian Flynn, desperate to strengthen his defensive options following Alan Tate's return to Manchester United, has admitted that Dyche features high on his list of potential targets.

''I have spoken with (Watford manager) Ray Lewington,'' Flynn said.

''They've told Sean his contract will not be renewed at the end of the season and that he can talk to other clubs now.

''I haven't spoken to him as yet, but he is one of the players on our list.''

Kettering-born Dyche was Ray Lewington's first signing - on a free from Millwall - when he succeeded Gianluca Vialli as Watford boss in July 2002.

The Chelsea tie, when he slotted in alongside Marcus Gayle in the absence of suspended skipper Neil Cox, was only his 11th appearance this season.

Recognised as a natural leader at the back, Dyche has more than 350 league games under his belt having previously played for Luton, Bristol City and Chesterfield.

His experience is a major attraction for Flynn, who has also confirmed an interest in Bristol Rovers's Christian Edwards.

The Vetch Field director of football is also thought to have enquired about Millwall's ex-Tottenham defender Stuart Nethercott, who joined Wycombe on a month's loan last week.

None of the targets will arrive before tomorrow's trip to Bury, where Flynn insists the return of Roberto Martinez will be as good as a new signing.

The 30-year-old Spaniard, who has just seven appearances to his name this season thanks to a knee injury, is set for a place on the bench at Gigg Lane having come through a practice match in midweek.

He may even be called upon to start should Lenny Johnrose fail a fitness test on a hamstring strain picked up in the goalless draw with Oxford at the Vetch last Tuesday.

''It's like having a new player given how often we've been without Roberto this season and it's a huge boost to everyone,'' Flynn added.

''It's not too far from the time he joined us last season and we're hoping he can have a similar impact this time round.

''He was the final piece in our jigsaw then and you could say the same thing again now.''

Leon Hylton will definitely start at left-back in the absence of Michael Howard (hamstring) as Swansea aim to extend their unbeaten run to five matches against a Bury side desperately short of confidence.

The Shakers, who boast the second worst defensive record in the Third Division, have lost their last eight matches.

Freefalling Bury have turned to rugby for inspiration as they bid to avoid a ninth straight defeat tomorrow. After losses to Macclesfield, Hull, Scunthorpe, Rochdale, Leyton Orient, Carlisle, Huddersfield and Lincoln, caretaker boss Graham Barrow is exploring all angles to turn the Shakers' alarming form around.

And the former Wigan manager, yet to win a match since taking over from Andy Preece in December, has made his squad watch the video of England's Rugby World Cup triumph this week in an attempt to inspire a turnaround in fortunes.

"We watched Clive Woodward saying he couldn't motivate the players in Australia," said veteran defender Colin Woodthorpe.

"His theory was that the motivation had to come from within the players themselves, so all the shouting in the world isn't going to do any good if it's not coming from within.

"As one of the senior players I can try to help the younger lads, but they have got to help themselves.

"We are inexperienced and we are in at the deep end so we've just got to stick together.

"We've got ourselves in a hole and we need to get ourselves out of it.

"Firstly we've got to listen to what Graham is telling us, because we are not taking it on board in the first 25 minutes of games."

Beaten by Brad Maylett's hat-trick on the opening day of this season, last year's play-off semi-finalists had appeared capable of another positive campaign when they took 15 points from a possible 18 in October and November.

But player-boss Andy Preece was shown the door for financial reasons, and a battle against relegation now looks to be on the cards.

Five Swansea players will walk a disciplinary tightrope tomorrow knowing one wrong move could dash their hopes of FA Cup glory. Star striker Lee Trundle, midfielders Leon Britton and Lenny Johnrose and central defensive pair Izzy Iriekpen and Kris O'Leary will all need to be on their best behaviour at Bury.

A yellow card would mean missing the club's cup fourth-round clash with either Reading or Preston on January 24 through suspension. Suspensions kick in after a fortnight under Football League rules.

Roberto Martinez will forget his injury nightmare and focus on the dream of promotion when he launches his latest comeback bid at Bury tomorrow. ''I don't want to think about my knee anymore,'' declared Swansea City's club skipper.

''That's in the past now and the only problem on my mind from this point is how we are going to get into the Second Division next season."

Just having the classy Spanish midfielder involved will be a major plus on that score.

He has made only seven appearances so far this season thanks to a knee ligament injury collected back in August.

There have been two attempted returns already - first in October, then December - and all at Vetch Field have fingers crossed that there will be no hitches at Gigg Lane tomorrow.

A fit Martinez, after all, could mean the difference between automatic promotion and the lottery of the play-offs come May.

It is almost a year since he arrived, hose and all, to put out the flames of Conference football that were threatening to engulf the club last winter.

Martinez was fundamental to the success of the survival fight, and Brian Flynn hopes the 30-year-old can stay fit and have a similar impact at the other end of the table this time round.

''It's hard to explain the feelings I've had in the last few months,'' Martinez added.

''I've never been injured in my career and I've had to deal with setbacks when I thought I was about to return.

''Right now I feel like a young kid again because hopefully, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

''Kicking the ball over distance has been the problem in the last three weeks, but I feel 100 per cent confident on it now.''

Martinez is likely to have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench tomorrow unless midfield colleague Lenny Johnrose fails to recover from a hamstring strain.

While Johnrose is racing to be fit to face his former club, Martinez will be coming up against the man who brought him into English football.

Bury's caretaker manager, Graham Barrow, was the boss at Wigan when Martinez arrived from Spain nearly nine years ago.

''Graham is a gentleman on and off the pitch and he has had a big influence on my life,'' he added.

''I have huge respect for him and so there will be some mixed feelings for me. I want him to do well at Bury and I wish him all the best, but only after 5pm tomorrow.''

He went on: ''There are 21 league games to go and we must try to get a run together now.

''Most of us experienced the same sort of situation last season. Then it was a very risky time for the club as we tried to avoid relegation, but we came through and that positive feeling from last May is still running through the squad.

''Those players who were here then know what it takes to finish the season well and, with the extra talent now at the club, I'm very confident that we can reproduce that sort of form. There is a gap between us and the top spots now, but we are well prepared mentally and I really feel we can do it.''

SWANSEA CITY star Roberto Martinez could make a shock return to the starting line-up in tomorrow's Third Division clash at Bury.

Martinez is part of an 18-man Swansea squad that heads to Lancashire today and was initially expected to be on the subs' bench for the match at Gigg Lane.

But the Spanish midfielder, who has not played for the first-team since the 1-0 win at Rochdale on October 25, could be thrown in from the start since central midfielder Lenny Johnrose is struggling with a hamstring problem.

A 60-minute practice match held at the Vetch on Wednesday is the only action the club captain has seen since his troublesome knee problem caused him to break down in a reserve game last month.

And Swans boss Brian Flynn, who will be without left-back Michael Howard at Bury because of hamstring trouble, does have other midfield options in the shape of Karl Connolly or Jonathan Coates.

But it is thought Flynn could pitch Martinez straight back into battle to speed up his return and boost Swansea's chances of securing three much-needed promotion points in the process.

The return of their most influential player - a mantle striker Lee Trundle has taken on his absence - would be a massive boost to a Swans side that has been deprived of Martinez' services for most of the season.

The 30-year-old play-maker has been in and out of the treatment room since damaging his knee in the 3-0 win over Boston on August 22 and several attempts at a comeback have been unsuccessful.

Richard Duffy, meanwhile, will head for Bury today 24 hours after travelling to Portsmouth for talks with Pompey boss Harry Redknapp over a possible move to the Premiership club.

"We'll sit down with Richard over the weekend to see what his thoughts are on Portsmouth," said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins yesterday.

"We don't want to lose him, but if he sees this as a chance to further his career, then there's little we can do to stop him leaving."

Former Cardiff City midfielder Layton Maxwell is due to arrive at the Vetch next Monday to start a two-week trial after he failed to show up this week because of an apparent mix-up over the dates.

Roberto Martinez will be back to boost Swansea City's promotion bid at Bury on Saturday. The influential Spanish midfielder is part of the first-team squad for the first time since playing at Rochdale on October 25.

And while it may be too soon for the club skipper to make the starting line-up, it seems certain that he will play some part against the Third Division strugglers.

Martinez came through a specially-arranged practice match yesterday unscathed and coach Kevin Reeves confirmed his involvement when the team head north tomorrow.

''He came through yesterday well and he will be involved in the squad on Saturday,'' said Reeves.

''Ideally we would have liked to have had another game for him to get his match fitness up, but we won't be announcing the team until Saturday morning so we have until then to decide.

''He has been delighted about his training particularly over the past three to four days because he has done things he was not able to do before in his rehabilitation, like for example, striking through the ball.

''We are certainly not taking Roberto up there to make up the numbers.

''We travel up tomorrow and will have a couple of training sessions. We will see how he is then and make a decision.''

Martinez has missed most of the season since injuring his knee back in August against Boston.

Reeves recognises how much the 30-year-old has been missed.

''Any side who had their captain playing only seven times in a season would miss them,'' he said.

''Brian (Flynn) and I were only discussing the other day how many points we could have got if Roberto had played.

''It was difficult to say and it's all hypothetical anyway. Suffice to say we have obviously missed him not playing.

''He has composure on the ball and that spreads through the rest of the side when he plays,'' said Reeves.

''But the biggest part of his game is his organisational skills. For a foreign player what he has is quite exceptional.

''I know he has been over here a few years now, but his organisation on the pitch is fantastic.

''There are not many players at our level who can do what he does and we have missed that.

''Saying that, Lenny Johnrose has been quality, especially over the past few games in that position.''

Richard Duffy, meanwhile, headed off to Portsmouth today for talks with Fratton Park boss Harry Redknapp, the first the 18-year-old has had with the Premiership club.

''It's early days,'' said Duffy's agent Wayne Elsey.

''It's only the first round of talks and he is just going down there to see whether he likes it.

''Swansea have offered him a new contract and we have been discussing that too. This is just part of the ongoing situation.''

Meanwhile, Layton Maxwell is due to arrive next Monday to start his two-week trial at Vetch Field.

Flynn spoke to the player's agent yesterday and there was a mix-up over dates which is why the ex-Cardiff City man failed to show up this week.

Maxwell has been training with Blackpool.

Bristol Rovers have poured cold water on reports linking defender Christian Edwards with a return to Swansea.

Swansea boss Brian Flynn has expressed an interest in seeing Edwards return to the club where he began his career.

But Rovers manager Ray Graydon says he is determined to maintain the services of the 28-year-old centre-back at the Memorial Stadium.

A Pirates spokesman said: "Swansea's interest in Christian Edwards was raised at a press conference this week.

"The manager admits he's spoken to a number of clubs about several of his players but will not disclose names of either the clubs or players concerned.

"He also said that Christian Edwards is a valuable member of his squad."

Swansea's Richard Duffy will travel to Portsmouth on Thursday for transfer talks with the Premiership side.
The highly rated 18-year-old has already been the subject of a failed bid in the region of £400,000.

Swansea manager Brian Flynn said last week he expects Duffy to sign a new contract at the Vetch.

Whatever the outcome of the transfer talks, Swansea say Duffy will be in the squad for Saturday's match at Bury.

Captain and midfielder Roberto Martinez is set to return to the squad for the match at Gigg Lane.

Martinez has not played since the game at Rochdale on 25 October and has only featured in seven matches all season because of a knee injury.

He came through an hour-long practice match at the Vetch Wednesday morning unscathed.


Flynn remains positive

Swansea director of football is confident his side can still secure automatic promotion from Division Three.
The Swans are nowl nine points behind the third automatic place after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with leaders Oxford.

"What we are capable of and what we must do is put a run together," Flynn told BBC Wales Sport.

"That's four games undeafeted now - albeit we've had three games at home."

Although frustrated with the draw at the Vetch, Flynn said he was impressed with his side's defensive display.

He added: "We're disappointed with drawing against the league leaders - that's the measure of how we judge ourselves.

"Defensively, Oxford's record is absolutely superb.

"I knew there wouldn't be many chances, and in the one golden chance we had in the second half, the goalkeeper made a great save from Andy Robinson.

"We defended well as a team - as good as we've defended all season to restrict them to no chances really."

Flynn added: "We'll go away to Bury having taken a lot out of this game.

"Hopefully, we'll get three points up there on Saturday."

Oxford United's fans will not be served the same footballing treats as Swansea City's on the Atkins diet this season, but the U's boss reckons both could soon be celebrating promotion all the same. Ian Atkins has built a side at the Kassam Stadium packed with seasoned, solid lower-league professionals that seems destined for the Second Division come May.

You get the impression that Leon Britton, all 5ft 5in and 9 stone of him, is not the sort of player who would ever grace one of Atkins's teams.

But for all his emphasis on physical presence when scouring the transfer market - even without the suspended Julian Alsop, Oxford are Division Three's answer to the land of the giants - the former Cardiff City assistant manager reckons Brian Flynn's team of creators will be one of the major threats to his team's promotion aspirations as the second half of the season unfolds.

''Our job was to get something out of this game and I'm pleased we've done that because it keeps Swansea 12 points behind us,'' said Atkins, whose side sit top of the table having extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games.

''That's important because I still think Swansea will finish in the top three.

''They have had a lot of injury problems, I recognise that, but the big players like (Lee) Trundle and (Brad) Maylett are now back in the side and they've got a wonderful chance of getting automatic promotion.

''Trundle is the perfect example. He's a massive player, and when he has been out of the side Swansea have not been winning games.

''Since he's been back he's scored goals and with people like him involved they can easily go on a run that will get them back into the top three.

''They missed (Roberto) Martinez against us because he can spread the play, and when he's involved with (Leon) Britton and the others there is always the chance of a bit of magic.''

Even in the absence of the Spanish midfield maestro, Atkins revealed that much of his side's 10-day preparation for their trip to South Wales had been devoted to combating Swansea's forward-thinking players.

Oxford had opted to operate without a right-back in order to cope with the right-sided emphasis of Swansea's attacking play, he said, although special attention was also paid to Andy Robinson.

Here was a man who had clearly done his homework.

And it paid off.

With three big lumps at the back in Paul McCarthy, Andy Crosby and former Swan Matthew Bound who are proven campaigners at this level, Oxford's promotion bid is built on not conceding.

With another giant in Paul Wanless in front of the back three, Atkins's men have given away fewer goals than any other side in the Nationwide League to date.

Swansea's challenge, by contrast, is based on the attacking flair displayed most often by Trundle and supported by the likes of Robinson, Britton, Maylett and Karl Connolly.

Last night, it was the United approach that came out on top as Trundle and Co were shut out. With the ex-Wrexham man involved, it has not happened often.

The home side's best efforts in the first period were two long-range sighters from Lenny Johnrose and a corner which ended with Kevin Nugent heading wide.

Trundle was relatively subdued - just two strikes on goal, both of which cannoned to safety off the man mountains in defence before goalkeeper Andy Woodman needed to be concerned.

Without focal point Alsop, Oxford's threat was minimal before the break and only a little greater afterwards.

Wanless curled a 20-yarder past the post, and that was about it as Flynn's defence stood tall.

Swansea's best chance was from distance, too, when 67 minutes in Robinson broke up an Oxford attack outside his own box and gave Britton some rare space to exploit.

After a 50-yard surge, the former West Ham player teed up his Scouse midfield colleague to rifle a low shot from just outside the penalty area which Woodman stretched to turn round the post.

Five minutes later, Trundle for once engineered room for a shot but blazed wide from an awkward angle, and the goalless draw which had for a long time looked likely was confirmed.

The stalemate was enough to push Swansea back into the play-off places, but there was frustration in the home ranks that they had failed to narrow the gap with the leaders.

''In one sense we would be happy with a point against the side at the top of the table, but we are disappointed not to have taken all three,'' said man of the match Kristian O'Leary.

''Oxford have three very experienced centre-backs and they are difficult to break down - you only have to look at Boundy's record when he was down here to know that.

''We played well and their keeper had to make one good save, and at least we've stayed unbeaten.

''The gaffer's stressed how important it is for us to put a run together and we have started that now after a sticky patch before Christmas.

''We are back in the top seven, which is important. We all looked in the papers after the weekend and saw we were down to eighth and wanted to put that right as soon as possible.

''Now we've done that, we've got to concentrate on winning as many games as possible and getting back into the top three.

''The ability is there to do that - we showed that at the start of the season - and now that we are getting everybody back fit we've really got to push on.''

After another bumper Vetch turnout, director of football Flynn added: ''We have rediscovered our form of early season in the last couple of weeks and it's just disappointing that we couldn't do it again for our fans.

''But we will serve them up some treats between now and the end of the season.''

Probably, unless Atkins's Oxford turn up in disguise every week.

Swansea gained a creditable point against the leaders to stay in the play-off hunt.


Chances were few and far between and the workmanlike U's left with their 16th game unbeaten but no shots on goal to show for their efforts.

In a first-half played at a fast and furious pace, Swans' midfielder Lenny Johnrose troubled visiting keeper Andy Woodman with a long-range effort minutes after flashing a shot narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area.

Oxford's rugged defending brought them four first-half yellow cards - while Jefferson Louis and Steve Basham threatened on the counter attack for the league leaders.

Lee Trundle crashed a free-kick into the Oxford wall after Woodman carried the ball just outside the area.

Andy Robinson lit up a dour second period with a snap shot with 20 minutes to go but Woodman tipped his effort round the post as both sides lacked the invention to trouble the scorers.

Swansea boss Brian Flynn watched his side grind out a draw with leaders Oxford - then promised the best is yet to come.


The Swans have now gone four games unbeaten to edge their way into the play-off places and Flynn crowed: "We can stay up there.

"We've rekindled the form from the start of the season but we?ll save some treats for later on.

"On our day we're a top three side but tonight we saw two very contrasting styles."

The U's failed to register a shot on goal in a dour game and Flynn added: "The lads have come off disappointed.

"We just edged it in goalmouth chances but they are physically big and don't give anything away.

"They close you down and are swift on the counter attack but we defended as well as we have defended at home all season.

"Our target was to get back in the promotion places and that's what we've done."

Swansea City 0-0 Oxford United

NO victory, no goals and no Lee Trundle specials - just a demonstration of how hard it is going to be for Swansea City to clinch promotion this season.

The Swans were looking for a win that would have lifted them back into the top six as well as cut the gap between them and the league leaders to single figures.

Instead Brian Flynn's side were frustrated by an unattractive yet supremely-organised Oxford side, who moved two points clear at the Third Division summit and stretched their unbeaten league run to 16 games in the process.

United had a game plan and it worked. Trundle was marked out of the match and the Swans were limited to a handful of chances with the visitors content to soak up the pressure and hit their opponents on the break.

Flynn's men at least moved up to seventh and made it four games without defeat in front of another large Vetch crowd.

Oxford arrived aiming to strengthen their hold on the league leadership as well as move closer to smashing a club record of going 20 league games without defeat.

For Swansea, though, the need for a win was more pressing. Having dropped out of the top seven for the first time this season when weekend results went against them, victory was crucial for a side still intent on having a tilt at the championship. With everyone available apart from Roberto Martinez - the midfielder should take part in a practice match today - Flynn made just one change to the team that swept into the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of the 2-1 win over Macclesfield, striker James Thomas losing his place to Kevin Nugent.

Oxford were without former Swan Julian Alsop, who was serving the first of a five-match ban, but former Vetch favourite Mathew Bound - an integral part of Swansea's last championship success in 2000 - was handed his usual hostile reception from the North Bank on his appearance in the visitors' defence.

With United one of the most muscular sides in the division, this was never going to be one for the purists and the fact four Oxford players were cautioned in the opening 30 minutes illustrates just how aggressive this contest was.

Paul McCarthy, Scott McNiven, James Hunt and Matt Robinson were all booked for late challenges as Oxford sought to curtail any Swansea forward movement and cut off the supply to Lee Trundle.

Home fans more accustomed to slick, controlled passing were seeing the ball hoofed long downfield, but despite having a good share of the early possession, there was precious little goalmouth action for Swansea.

Their best chance fell on 30 minutes when Lenny Johnrose sent a venomous 30-yard strike just over the crossbar. Six minutes later Bound intervened to deflect a close-range Trundle shot out for a corner after the Swansea hotshot had executed a sweet turn in an attempt to evade his marker.

As one or two gaps began to open up in front of the back four, Johnrose speculated with another decent 30-yard drive that flew into the arms of Us keeper Andy Woodman.

And on the stroke of half-time a fierce Andy Robinson effort from similar distance appeared bound for the back of Woodman's goal until Andy Crosby diverted it out for a corner. A second successive corner resulted and Nugent dived in with a header that veered just wide of the left-hand post before Trundle fired a free-kick into the Oxford wall from 18 yards.

Flynn's side had showed just enough defensive resilience to prevent Oxford making significant inroads into their area and the visitors trudged into the changing room at the break having failed to test Roger Freestone with a single shot.

But Oxford did give the Swans a scare 10 minutes into the second period when Paul Wanless sent a flying 20-yard effort a fraction wide.

As the clock showed 67 minutes Leon Britton provided a moment of inspiration when he burst out of midfield and ran 20 yards before laying off a square ball for Robinson. The midfielder's first-time effort had sufficient pace on it to force Woodman to push the ball out for a corner.

Seven minutes later Trundle raced down the inside left channel but just as the home fans rose in anticipation, the striker pulled his shot wide.

Five minutes from time Swansea won a free-kick from a similar distance Trundle netted his wonder goal against Macclesfield. Up stepped Trundle hoping for a repeat, but this time his curled strike was gathered comfortably.

Swansea City: Freestone, Duffy, Iriekpen, O'Leary, Howard (Hylton, 69), Maylett, Robinson, Britton, Trundle, Nugent (Connolly, 73)Subs (not used): Thomas, Durkan, Murphy

Oxford United: Woodman, Crosby, Bound, McCarthy, McNiven, Wanless (Ashton, 78), Hunt, Robinson, Louis (Rawle, 75), Basham, WhiteheadSubs (not used): Hackett, Steele, Brown

Referee: Ray Olivier (W Mids)

Attendance: 8,896

SWANSEA CITY boss Brian Flynn expressed his disappointment after watching his side held to a scoreless draw against league leaders Oxford last night - but insisted they can still win the championship.

Flynn's promotion-chasing Swans moved back up to seventh after stretching their unbeaten run to four games in a highly-competitive Third Division clash at the Vetch. But the result means Flynn's men are still 12 points adrift of top spot and nine short of Doncaster in third place.

And Flynn said, "The fact the players are disappointed to get a hard-fought draw against the league leaders shows the ambition there is at the club.

"The disappointing thing for me is that we couldn't build on our recent good run and the FA Cup success with a win.

"But Flynn, whose men now travel to face struggling Bury on Saturday added, "What's most important is we're back among the play-off positions.

"The gap between us and the automatic promotion places is not too big for us to bridge - and I still believe we're capable of finishing top."

Brian Flynn has saluted Swansea City ahead of tonight's crunch clash with leaders Oxford United, insisting his is the best squad in the Third Division. And the Vetch Field director of football has urged his players to send a message to all their promotion rivals by proving him right.

Oxford, 3-0 victors over Swansea at the Kassam Stadium back in August, arrive at Vetch Field on the back of a 15-game unbeaten league run and have lost just once - at Doncaster in September - throughout this league campaign.

But buoyed by thrilling victories over Yeovil and Macclesfield in the last nine days, Flynn is in upbeat mood.

''Oxford's record of only one defeat so far is excellent and the league table says they are the best side in the league," he said. ''But is their squad the best in the division? No. I would have to say mine is, and it would send out a major statement to everyone else in the league if we could beat them tonight.''

With his side outside the play-off places for the first time this season thanks to their continuing FA Cup involvement, Flynn went on: ''We don't want to be down in eighth and we've got an immediate chance to remedy that.

''We are going to have be at our best to do that, and especially strong defensively. Oxford's set pieces are extremely effective.

''But we've shaken off the albatross of not having beaten any of the top six sides against Yeovil and the challenge is there for us to beat the top side.

''If we want to be in the automatic promotion places at the end of the season, this is the sort of game we have to win. That makes it one of the biggest of the season.''

It is doubly frustrating, therefore, that hugely influential club skipper Roberto Martinez remains unavailable - he will test his knee in a practice match tomorrow - while Karl Connolly (calf) is doubtful ahead of a late fitness test.

So Flynn is likely to name the same 16 which saw off Macclesfield, though Kevin Nugent looks set to come into the starting line-up ahead of James Thomas.

Oxford must decide between supersub Mark Rawle and Jefferson Louis as they seek to replace the suspended former Swansea striker Julian Alsop.

''The lads have done particularly well in the last two matches,'' added Flynn.

''We look as if we have rediscovered our best home form, and we know that if we perform to our capabilities there is no reason why we shouldn't fancy our chances against Oxford.''

Free agent Steve Jenkins, who had been tipped for a possible return to former club Swansea, has joined Second Division Peterborough instead

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has hailed the club's FA Cup fourth-round pairing with either Preston North End or Reading as the perfect draw. Fans and players alike were left feeling a little disappointed after coming out of the hat alongside the two First Division play-off hopefuls.

But with a fourth straight home tie to come on January 24 and a chance to progress to round five of the competition for only the second time since 1965 - the only other occasion was in 1980 - Jenkins insisted Swansea should be delighted.

"It's more or less exactly what I would have wanted," the Vetch Field supremo declared.

"Because just like the last round, we have been given a winnable tie.

"Everybody knows we haven't had many decent runs in the FA Cup in recent times, and you have to say we will probably not get a better opportunity than this to get through to the fifth round in a hurry.

"It's nice to get a big draw and some people might disagree with me, but I think this is great for us. Continuing in the competition is much better than losing a one-off game against one of the big Premiership teams."

Reading and Preston will do battle a week tonight for the chance to come to South Wales after their third-round meeting ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Deepdale last Saturday.

Just one place separates Craig Brown's Preston (eighth) and Steve Coppell's Reading (ninth) in the league table, but Jenkins is in no doubt who he would rather face.

The Royals boast star performers like Shaun Goater, Scott Murray and Nicky Forster in their ranks, but have struggled since former boss Alan Pardew left for West Ham, failing to win any of their last six matches.

"If Reading win the replay then our players should be quite confident of at least matching them," he added.

"They've had to go through a change of manager and are obviously suffering through a lack of confidence at the moment. If we play well we should have nothing to fear."

He went on: "Playing one of the big clubs can affect a club's league form. That should not happen here.

"The players will not get it into their heads that they are in a big tie - they will be playing the game without anybody really noticing.

"Having said that I would hope for something close to a capacity crowd, at least among the 10,500 spaces we have for home fans."

Director of football Brian Flynn was equally pleased with yesterday's draw, adding: "Everybody in our position dreams of playing a big club, but I'm delighted with that.

"It's a home tie, and having beaten a Conference side, a Third Division side and a Second Division side, we'll now get the opportunity to pit our wits against a good First Division side, whoever wins the replay.

"And we'll have a chance. Generally we've played well at home this season, and hopefully there'll be a full house in to help us along."

Draw

Manchester City or Leicester v Tottenham, SWANSEA CITY v Preston North End or Reading, Northampton or Rotherham v Manchester Utd, Kidderminster or Wolves v West Ham, Arsenal v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Accrington Stanley or Colchester, Ipswich v Sunderland, Luton v Tranmere or Bolton, Liverpool v Newcastle, Burnley v Gillingham, Nottingham Forest v Sheffied Utd, Portsmouth v Barnsley or Scunthorpe, Everton v Fulham, Telford v Millwall, Southend or Scarborough v Watford or Chelsea, Birmingham City v Wimbledon or Stoke.

Ties to be played January 24/25.

Latest odds

BOOKMAKERS Jack Brown make Manchester United 3/1 favourites to win the FA Cup.

They then offer: 7/2 Arsenal 4/1 Chelsea, 11/1 Liverpool, 12/1 Newcastle 20/1 Birmingham, 25/1 Bolton, Portsmouth 33/1 Everton, Tottenham, Fulham 40/1 Wolves 50/1 Leicester, Middlesbrough Manchester City, 66/1 Ipswich, Sheffield Utd, Sunderland, 80/1 Millwall, West Ham 100/1 Coventry, Nottingham Forest, 125/1 Gillingham, Reading; 150/1 Preston, 175/1 Burnley, 1000/1 Swansea; Others on request.

Kristian O'Leary has pledged to carry on "just doing my job" as he bids for an extended stay in the Swansea City side. The 26-year-old centre-half was in and out of the side while Alan Tate spent two months on loan at Vetch Field.

But now that Tate has returned to Old Trafford, O'Leary is determined to show Brian Flynn that he is the man for the job.

''When I have played in the side this season, I feel I have done well,'' said O'Leary.

''I am pretty pleased with my own form.

''It's not a case of proving a point. I just want to continue to do my job.

''I can't let talk of other defenders coming in get to me.

''I have never let anyone down at this club in the past and I don't intend to do that now.

''If I can get a run in the team then that I would like it even better.

''But I don't make those decisions and I just have to keep playing well when I get the chance.''

O'Leary was part of the Swansea side which lost 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium back in August.

That match will be remembered for a comedy of errors in the final five minutes when a string of defensive blunders gift-wrapped three points to the home side and took away the Swans' 100 per cent record.

O'Leary insists the result didn't reflect the game.

''We can't do anything about that now,'' he added

''Mistakes were made and we just have to live with that.

''On that day we were as good as Oxford apart from that last five minutes.

''Tonight is a big game,'' he added.

''We have got to start picking up points in the league now.

''Before the last three games we were not playing well.

''We have to return to that good form especially after slipping out of the top seven for the first time this season.

''They will have a game plan and we have to combat that.

''But with the players we have got I don't think we are far off them. It's important though to get the win to make sure we stay in touch at the top.''

Oxford United will enter the record books if they can avoid defeat at Vetch Field tonight. A win or draw would take Ian Atkins's side' unbeaten run to 16 games - the best stretch of form since the club rose from the Division Three to the old top flight in the early 1980s.

Then the U's went 20 league games without being beaten, a total Atkins's team believe they can pass.

It has been a season of records for the Kassam Stadium club.

Their latest victory, at Southend nine days ago, took them through the 50-point barrier after 24 Third Division matches - the fastest they have ever reached the landmark.

Atkins's men have only actually lost one league game all season, a 2-0 reverse at Doncaster Rovers back in September.

They have not conceded three goals in a league match since Marc Richards's double helped Swansea to a 3-2 win at Vetch Field back in March - the last time also that Oxford lost having taken the lead.

"Go through the record books and see how many teams have had 51 points from 24 games at the turn of the year," former Cardiff assistant boss Atkins said, "and there won't be many.

"It's a fantastic total and now we have to make sure we continue it. If we can get anywhere 84 points I think we've got a good chance of stepping up a division."

Swansea will have to make do without Karl Connolly when they host leaders Oxford at the Vetch Field.

The 33-year-old was a late withdrawal from the side that beat Macclesfield 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday after failing to shake off a testicle injury.

He will now sit out the visit of the Us, but otherwise City director of football Brian Flynn has no new concerns.

Winger Brad Maylett and midfielder Leon Britton are both expected to play after coming through the cup clash unscathed following their recent injury problems, while Stuart Jones and Richard Jones could both be included.

Meanwhile, the Swans have been drawn at home to play either Preston or Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

SWANSEA CITY aim to reclaim their place among the Division Three pacesetters tonight with defender Izzy Iriekpen insisting, "We can still win the championship."

The Swans head into a crunch Vetch Field clash against league leaders Oxford a gaping 12 points short of top spot and 10 adrift of third-placed Doncaster

Brian Flynn's side have ground to make up after dropping to their lowest league position of the season - eighth - thanks to weekend league wins for promotion rivals Huddersfield and Lincoln.

But the Swans could not have asked for a tougher test of their top-three credentials since Oxford, 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture on August 25, arrive in South Wales unbeaten in 15 Third Division matches.

Even more worryingly, Ian Atkins' side have lost just one league game all season - a 2-0 reverse at Doncaster way back on September 20 - and conceded fewer goals than any other Nationwide League club in the country.

But Iriekpen, with revenge in mind tonight after his Swansea debut at the Kassam Stadium ended with the visitors conceding all three goals in a calamitous final five minutes, is not in the least bit daunted by the statistics.

That's because the former West Ham defender is convinced the Swans - impressive 3-2 winners over Yeovil in their last league outing nine days ago - are on a march back to the top of the table.

"I know there's quite a big gap between us and Oxford but we're definitely still in with a shout of winning the championship," said Iriekpen.

"No way have we given up on finishing top. We're only half way through the season.

"There are still 22 games to go - we've got two games in hand on some teams - and that's plenty for us to close the gap."

But Iriekpen admits Swansea's chances of a top three-finish will be slim unless they take points off their promotion rivals at the Vetch.

"That's going to be the key to us winning the championship or getting one of the automatic promotion places," said the 21-year-old Londoner.

"It's crucial that we get results against the other top seven sides - especially at the Vetch - and aim not to lose any of our home games.

"We beat Yeovil at home after Christmas and it's important we get a result against Oxford and the likes of Doncaster and Hull who are yet to come here."

Iriekpen added, "People talk about how well Oxford have done this season but I think Yeovil are the best team I've seen.

"In that respect, our win against them was such an important result and we have to aim to do the same against Oxford.

"It doesn't really matter how many games they've gone without defeat. We won't let that worry us ahead of the match because we believe we can win it.

"After the Yeovil result and the cup win over Macclesfield, we're pretty confident at home and we're not going to fear Oxford."

Centre-half Iriekpen said there was a determination within the squad to avenge their first defeat of the season at the Kassam Stadium.

With the summer match drifting towards a scoreless draw, Swansea fell behind to an 85th-minute penalty before a couple of goalkeeping blunders from rookie goalkeeper Brian Murphy allowed Oxford to add two more.

"It didn't turn out to be the most enjoyable debut," said Iriekpen, who almost joined United in the summer before the move hit a snag when he picked up an ankle injury.

"We were actually playing well, though, until it all went pear-shaped in the last 10 minutes.

"I think that match will be on our minds at the Vetch. No-one likes to lose 3-0 and it would be nice to get some sort of revenge."

As Oxford chase a club record of 20 league games unbeaten, set in 1984, their former Swansea striker Julian Alsop misses out on a return to his old club.

Alsop is starting the first of a five-match ban after picking up his third red card of the season in Oxford's 1-1 draw at Huddersfield on December 20.

But another ex-Swan, defender Mathew Bound, can once again expect a hostile reception from the North Bank when he takes his place at the heart of the visitors' back four.

One change to the Swansea side that trumped Macclesfield in the cup could see Kevin Nugent return up front at the expense of James Thomas.

Your at-a-glance guide

SWANSEA
Probable
Freestone, Duffy, Iriekpen, O'Leary, Howard, Maylett, Robinson, Johnrose, Britton, Trundle, Nugent. Subs (from): Murphy, Connolly, Thomas, Coates, Durkan, Hylton

Player to watch
Leon Britton: Back on song with a menacing midfield display in Saturday's FA Cup triumph over Macclesfield and keen to carry that into league battle.

What they say
Swans boss Brian Flynn: "This is a cracking match to look forward to. We lost our place in the top seven for the first time at the weekend and we've got to make sure we get it back."

OXFORD UTD

Probable
Woodman, McCarthy, Crosby, Bound, McNiven, Whitehead, Wanless, Hunt, Robinson, Rawle/Louis Basham. Subs: Hackett, Rawle/Louis Ashton, Brown, Steele

Player to watch
Mark Rawle: Quick striker whose six goals this season - many of them spectacular efforts - have all come as a substitute, but he could be unleashed from the start tonight.

What they say
Oxford boss Ian Atkins: "We had some fantastic results over the Christmas period and we want to keep our unbeaten run going."

Form guide
Swansea have won two, lost two and drawn two of their last six Division Three matches. Oxford are on a 15-match unbeaten league run and have lost just once all season.

Bookie's corner
Swansea to win 6-4, Oxford to win 6-4, Draw 11-5.

Mouth-waterer
Lee Trundle to score first and Swansea to win 2-1, 33-1.

Swansea City have landed a fourth straight home draw after being paired with either Preston or Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup. It was not the plum tie boss Brian Flynn had been hoping for, but the advantage of playing at Vetch Field will have his squad believing they can progress to the fifth round of the competition for only the second time in 39 years.

Swansea will have to wait until January 13 to discover who they will meet after Craig Brown's Preston and Steve Coppell's Reading played out a 3-3 draw at Deepdale on Saturday.

Should Preston, currently eighth in Division One, succeed in the replay against the side who lie just a place below them in the table, the January 24 meeting will rekindle memories of Swansea's greatest FA Cup performance when they lost to the Lancashire club in the 1964 semi-final.

Meanwhile Flynn is keen to bring former Swansea City player and Welsh international Christian Edwards back to Vetch Field.

And the Swansea boss has taken ex-Burnley centre-back Earl Davis on trial as he looks to bolster a squad left short on defensive cover by Alan Tate's return to Manchester United and the retirement of Jason Smith.

Edwards, 28, impressed at the Vetch for Bristol Rovers back in November, one of 24 appearances he has clocked up since a free transfer move from Nottingham Forest in the summer.

Born in Caerphilly, Edwards counts himself as a Swans fan having started his professional career at the club almost a decade ago.

He left for Forest in 1998 in a £275,000 deal, but played only 56 times during a disappointing stint at the City Ground which saw him go out on loan to four different clubs.

Manchester-born Davis, meanwhile, is at the other end of the scale in terms of experience.

The 6ft 1in 20-year-old, previously of non-league Southport and Stalybridge, spent last season at First Division Burnley but was released without making a first-team appearance.

''I have made an enquiry about Christian Edwards,'' Flynn said.

''I spoke with (Rovers manager) Ray Graydon and he has indicated that he doesn't want to lose him at this stage, but that doesn't necessarily mean the end of that.

''Earl is an untried youngster who could be one for the future.''

Brian Flynn insists Lee Trundle is not priceless; but he cannot deny the 18-goal striker is worth his weight in gold to Swansea City. After the Scouse frontman's latest headline-grabbing show, Flynn declared that Trundle, just like any other member of the Vetch Field squad, may be sold if the money was right.

It would surely take a sum to match any on offer from a major FA Cup payday to prise the irrepressible 27-year-old away.

Because with each game he plays right now, Trundle looks more vital to the Swansea cause.

After he had helped them to victory in the second round of the cup, Flynn's men went three games without a win over Christmas while Trundle was suspended.

He returned eight days ago and Yeovil were beaten by his injury-time winner.

Next up Macclesfield in round three, and Swansea had Trundle to thank once again.

The men from Match of the Day had picked out the ex-Wrexham centre-forward after a starring role at stage one of the cup, when Second Division Rushden & Diamonds were thumped 3-0.

They were at it again this weekend.

''He is one of the stars of the FA Cup so far,'' Mark Lawrenson said.

''And he's far too good to be playing in the Third Division.''

Lawrenson is not the only big name in the Trundle fan club.

The man known as Magic Daps in these parts is turning heads all over the place right now - only last week Sky Sports' Chris Kamara suggested he could be the answer to Everton's attacking problems.

With the transfer window open, cue fear among Swansea's fans.

He may have been at the club for little more than six months, but the prospect of life without Trundle is close to unthinkable.

Still Flynn reckons he is no exception to the every-player-has-his-price rule, even if it is clear that selling his star man is anything but a New Year's resolution.

''The phone's off the hook during the transfer window,'' Flynn claimed.

''If other clubs look at Lee, which is likely given the form he's in, so be it.

''He is just like any other player. He's not an exception to what I've said in the past about every player having a price, but selling him is not something I am contemplating right now.''

Would Trundle not, as seems natural, wish to strut his stuff beyond the Nationwide League basement?

''Whoever they are, every player must strive to play at a higher level,'' added Flynn.

''And you can't take a player's ambitions away because if you do they will be in a comfort zone and you don't want that.

''But Lee loves it down here. As a late starter in the professional game he just thrives on playing football.''

Trundle, too, was keen to play down any idea that his outstanding contribution to Swansea's season so far could soon see them losing him.

''I'll just keep doing my job,'' he declared.

''You are always going to get speculation with clubs getting mentioned in the papers, but all I'm concentrating on is getting my head down and doing my stuff.

''Anything like that would be down to the club and not me anyway, so I'm just going to stick to the football.''

On Saturday, once again, sticking to the football meant sending another bumper Vetch crowd - this campaign's good gates are partly thanks to Trundle's presence - into raptures.

Andy Robinson, James Thomas and you know who (twice) had already had given Macclesfield goalkeeper Steve Wilson some work when Richard Duffy delivered a precision left-foot cross a minute before the break.

Thomas headed back across goal for Trundle to chest the ball down and rifle low into the bottom corner.

''It was a great first touch and then bang, done,'' Lawrenson gushed, ''a bit like Freddie Kanoute (scorer of a hat-trick this weekend) at Spurs.

''And if you speak to Brian Flynn about Trundle, he'll tell you that it's not just that he scores goals, he also creates them.''

True, although not this weekend.

As against Yeovil six days earlier, when Merthyr boys Kevin Gall and Gavin Williams scored, a Welshman had threatened to rain on Swansea's parade.

After Robinson had lost out to Chris Priest in midfield, Bangor-born Matthew Tipton finished clinically from 20 yards to leave Flynn's side facing a replay.

Clearly, Trundle was not keen on the idea of midweek in Macclesfield.

Three minutes after the leveller, Wilson scrambled to save at his silver-booted feet, then brought Trundle down as he went for the rebound. Wrongly, no penalty was given.

Revenge was almost exacted a minute later when Duffy's surge fed Trundle, who this time scooped his shot just over the bar.

Within 60 seconds a third chance arrived and Trundle, predictably, was not to be denied.

Having himself been fouled by Matt Haddrell, the star of the Swansea show curled a 25-yard free-kick into Wilson's top corner.

''I'd put one free-kick miles over the bar in the first half, then Andy Robinson hit another against the wall,'' Trundle added.

''So it was my turn again and thankfully I put it away.''

There was a late scare at the other end when Colin Little hooked a volley on to the bar, but injury-time was dominated by a red card for Macclesfield's Steve Macauley, sent off for clipping Duffy after an earlier booking for dissent.

And so Swansea are through to round four of the cup for the first time in five years, with confidence brimming again going into tomorrow's critical league meeting with Oxford United.

''Lee has been brilliant for us recently,'' midfielder Leon Britton said.

''He's scoring goals and creating goals. He has been our trump card in almost every game.

''He's a joy to play with, and I certainly hope he doesn't end up going anywhere in the transfer window. Losing him would be a massive blow and I think the club will be trying to keep him here.''

Swansea's fans will hope so. For sure, it would take a cheque full of zeroes to ease the pain of losing their biggest hero.

Julian Alsop will definitely miss Tuesday's crunch clash against his old club after Oxford failed in a second appeal against a five-match ban. The big striker, who scored one of the three late goals as Oxford won the August Bank Holiday encounter 3-0, was handed the ban by the Football Association after his third sending off of the season against Huddersfield.

The Third Division leaders appealed against that decision but their pleas went unheard earlier in the week.

Oxford were furious that the three-man FA disciplinary panel had not used all the evidence presented to them on Alsop's behalf and asked for a review.

That took place yesterday but the same three-man panel stuck with their decision, despite Oxford's protests.

Alsop's five-game suspension begins on Tuesday and as well as missing the return to his old club, he will be out for the whole of January including a clash with fellow promotion hunters Hull.

While he was glad to hear of Alsop's absence, Swansea coach Kevin Reeves said it would have little effect on how his side approached Tuesday's game.

''He would have obviously been playing against a previous club of his and we know what happens then,'' said Reeves.

''Alsop has done well for Oxford and would have been a threat in both penalty boxes.

''Of course, that has now gone, but we still know it will be a tough game for us.''

BRIAN FLYNN sent a message to any top-flight clubs who might attempt to prise Swansea star man Lee Trundle away from the Vetch in the wake of another majestic two-goal performance.

"The phone is off the hook during the transfer window," insisted the Swans boss. "Letting Lee go is not something we're contemplating."

Not for all Roman Abramovich's billions would Swansea cash in on Trundle right now, tempting though it would be to speculate what price tag would be attached to a player who doesn't seem to know the meaning of the phrase goal-drought.

Priceless is probably the only valuation Swansea fans would place on the sensational Scouse striker, after his 17th and 18th goals of the season fired the club into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in five years.

The second came from a sublime free-kick David Beckham would be proud to call his own.

And it's little wonder that a week which began with talk about Richard Duffy's possible transfer to Portsmouth ended with Flynn fielding questions on whether he could resist potential overtures for his top scorer.

"Lee is bound to have attracted the attention of other clubs and I've got no problem with that," said Flynn.

"And if any managers or chairmen were to ring me about him, then so be it.

"But my response is that Lee loves it down here and we have no intention of selling him."

Added Flynn, "Lee thrives on games. He's refreshing because he didn't come into the pro game until 24 or 25 and in many ways he's catching up on those lost years.

"I understand that one day he will want to test himself at a higher level. That's what every player wants. You can't take that ambition from someone.

"If players don't progress, they end up in a comfort zone and no one wants to be in that situation.

"But that's for the future. Lee is a Swansea player at the moment and we're delighted to have him."

Sentiments that 8,000-plus Swans fans - treated to yet another virtuoso Trundle display on Saturday - will be quick to endorse.

The former Wrexham frontman was an irresistible force, dissecting the Macclesfield defence with shot after shot as he took his FA Cup haul for the season to five.

But Trundle's influence reaches much further than just scoring goals.

Somehow his presence manages to galvanise the whole team - and you'd have to delve quite a way back into the Vetch Field history books to find a player who had such an immense impact on the side as a whole.

Add the hero-worshipping his phenomenal performances have generated among his fans and Trundle is one happy man at the moment.

"It does give me a buzz to walk through town and see kids copying my haircut and wearing shirts with Trundle printed on the back," admitted the 27-year-old.

And he added, "I know there's going to be speculation in the papers about other clubs being interested in me, but that doesn't bother me.

"I'm happy at Swansea and I just want to keep on doing the job I'm paid to do."

Trundle did the job at the weekend, but not before Macclesfield - reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when defender Steve Macauley was dismissed for a second bookable offence - had given Swansea several scares in a competitive first half.

Swans defender Izzy Iriekpen had to be at his athletic best to keep out a 15th-minute Chris Priest effort as the Silkmen caused the home side problems on the break.

But after firing a couple of warning shots across Macclesfield bows, up popped Trundle in the 44th minute to chest down a James Thomas header and tuck the ball low past keeper Steve Wilson.

In the second half Leon Britton, back to his best after a recent dip in form, had a shot saved after a burst into the box, but on 65 minutes Town drew level through ex-Wales Under-21 international Matthew Tipton.

Andy Robinson lost out to a clever cross-field ball from Priest and Tipton resisted the attention of Duffy to smash the ball past a stranded Roger Freestone.

Swansea should have been awarded a penalty on 68 minutes when Wilson brought down Trundle in the box.

But only two minutes later Trundle had his revenge over the keeper.

Awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, Trundle curled an inch-perfect strike past the clutches of Wilson into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Another magnificent goal and, after a late Macclesfield burst that saw Colin Little rattle the crossbar with a volley that sailed over Freestone's head, another Trundle-dominated win.

"I know Lee will get the headlines, but that was a great all-round effort," said Flynn.

The manager's only lament was the that Swansea dropped out of the top seven in Division Three for the first time this season as Huddersfield and Lincoln took advantage of their earlier cup exits to pick up league victories.

But the Swans will have the chance to make up ground when they face leaders Oxford United at the Vetch tomorrow.

Wonder who the key man might be?

LEE TRUNDLE produced another sensational two-goal performance to fire Swansea City into the fourth round of the FA Cup - and declared, "Bring on Liverpool!"

The top-scoring Swansea striker claimed his 17th and 18th goals of the season - the second from a sublime 20-yard free-kick - as Brian Flynn's side beat Third Division rivals Macclesfield Town 2-1 in an electrifying third-round clash at the Vetch.

The reward is a place in today's lunchtime draw for the fourth round, a stage the Swans have not reached since their famous giant-killing of Premiership West Ham five years ago.

Having beaten Rushden & Diamonds, Stevenage and now Macclesfield, Swansea are relishing a possible mouth-watering - not to mention lucrative - home tie against one of the Premier League big boys.

And Liverpool-born Trundle has his heart set on a plum clash against the Anfield giants - who earned a 2-0 win over Third Division Yeovil yesterday - despite the fact he is a lifelong Everton fan.

"The dream fourth round game for me would be Everton at Goodison Park," said the former Wrexham ace.

"But the problem with that is I wouldn't want to knock Everton out! So I'm going for Liverpool.

"Liverpool either at the Vetch or Anfield, I don't really mind."

Added Trundle, "Another home game would be better as it would give us a great chance of progressing further.

"If we drew a Premiership or top Division One club, it would guarantee a brilliant atmosphere at the Vetch and I don't think many teams would relish coming here.

"Personally, it means so much to be in the fourth round of the cup. It's a great competition.

"I think I'd be able to carry on scoring against a bigger side. Even though I'd be up against better quality defenders, I'd be confident in my ability to get past them and get shots in.

"And as far as the club is concerned, I think a good cup run will do everyone's confidence some good.

"If we're going into league matches on the back of cup wins, it can only help us. I don't agree with people who say the cup is a distraction."

Boss Flynn echoed Trundle's sentiments - and crossed fingers for a home clash against Premier League champions Manchester United that would earn Swansea a financial windfall.

"We don't want to be greedy, but yes it would be nice to come up against one of the top Premier League clubs," smiled Flynn, his team left to fly the Welsh flag in the FA Cup after Cardiff's 1-0 defeat against Sheffield United.

"Perhaps we could play Man United at the Vetch, take them to a replay at Old Trafford - and then beat them!

"Seriously, though, it's a great feeling to be in the fourth round and the experience our young players would gain from coming up against one of the best teams in the country would be massive.

"And I believe we've got the ability in the side to cause an upset. Cup football throws up the unexpected and you've got to believe you can cause a shock."

While Trundle dreams of Liverpool and Flynn hopes for the chance to pit his managerial wits against close friend Sir Alex Ferguson, midfield star Leon Britton has his former club in mind.

"I fancy West Ham in the next round," he said. "That would be the ideal chance for me to show them what they're missing.

"The West Ham fans probably don't know too much about me as I didn't play for the Hammers first team, so it would be good to have the match in front of my own fans rather than Upton Park."

And as Swansea prepare for tomorrow's crucial Division Three clash against league leaders Oxford at the Vetch, Flynn reflected on the huge progress the club has made over the past 12 months.

"Our league form has gone through a bit of a dip recently, but the bigger picture shows we're in a much better position than this time last year," he said.

"We're 21 points better off with two games in hand and we're through to the fourth round of the FA Cup. That's good progress."

Swansea director of football Brian Flynn admitted he wants Premiership opposition in the FA Cup fourth round after knocking out Macclesfield.

Their passage into the fourth round for the first time since 1998 was booked thanks to prolific striker Lee Trundle, who scored both goals in a 2-1 win, while Matthew Tipton replied for Macc.

Flynn said: "We don't want to be greedy but would love to face a Premiership side down here in the next round.

"It would be massive for the city, financially for the club and especially for the players.

"To get a plum draw in the next round would be a great experience for the young players. To play on a big stage against some of the best players in the world would be a huge learning experience for them."

He added: "I think we have the ability to produce a shock. Club football is all about 'on the day' and you just never know who could cause an upset."