South Wales Evening Post

Jason Scotland hopes to complete a first full game of the season tonight as he targets a start in Saturday's Champion- ship clash with Nottingham Forest.

The Swansea City striker has been left playing fitness catch-up following a summer operation on a stomach problem.

But Scotland aims to prove he is ready for Forest by playing a full part in tonight's Carling Cup first-round tie with Brentford at the Liberty Stadium.

"I'm hoping to come through 60, 70, 80 or maybe even 90 minutes," Scotland said.

"If I can do that and I can perform to a high level then, hopefully, I will be knocking on the door for the game on Saturday.

"That is my target, but obviously we will have to see how tonight goes first."

Scotland had been troubled by the stomach injury throughout the second half of last season, when he favoured his left foot because using his right triggered pain.

The surgery meant last season's 29-goal top-scorer missed Swansea's July training camp in Sweden and, while he travelled to Spain later in the month, he did not figure in a friendly until the West Brom draw 10 days ago.

Scotland managed 10 minutes against the Baggies and an hour against Den Haag last Tuesday before coming on for the last 14 minutes of Swansea's opening-day defeat at Charlton.

"I felt all right when I came on," he added.

"But it wouldn't have made any sense for me to start at Charlton and it wouldn't have been fair on the rest of the boys either.

"It's disappointing for me having the injury problem because I've been looking forward to the Championship.

"We're playing against some big clubs this year and you don't want to miss any of it.

"But, hopefully, I will be fully fit soon - I just need to get more minutes under my belt."

Scotland had an impact when he arrived from the bench at The Valley, and Charlton boss Alan Pardew highlighted the 29-year-old's absence from the starting line-up as a heavy blow for Swansea.

Roberto Martinez's team missed Scotland's power and physical presence in attack, particularly with Gorka Pintado on the sidelines.

But Swansea nevertheless came away from their first Championship outing in 24 years with much credit after outmanoeuvring their hosts for long spells.

"It was a decent performance by the lads," reckoned Scotland.

"We didn't really create that many clear chances, but we outplayed them in certain parts of the pitch and that was good to see.

"It gave us a first sign of where we are going to be this season and I think we've proved we can compete.

"We are going to play against some big teams this year and we have to relish that challenge. We can't lie down and let sides walk all over us."

Especially not at set-pieces.

Dead balls are the talk of the Liberty after they supplied both Charlton goals, and they will be until Swansea shore things up.

"It's disappointing because the gaffer talked to us about set-pieces on Friday and we worked on defending them," Scotland said.

"A lack of concentration cost us twice and we have to put that right starting in the Brentford game."

In truth, any set-piece failings would not be so costly tonight, for there are no points at stake against League Two side Brentford.

But Swansea could do with a morale-boosting victory ahead of the Forest game - and without the flak which would come with defeat.

"We need to get that first win under our belts," Scotland insisted. "We need to get Saturday out of our system and want to go into the Forest game with a positive vibe."