South Wales Evening Post

Owain Tudur Jones hopes for a dash of Carling tonight to prove he's worth a shot in the Coca-Cola League.

After two years of morale-sapping injury problems, Tudur Jones has finally put a career-threatening knee complaint behind him.

But the Swansea City midfielder's frustrations continue as he struggles to force his way into Roberto Martinez's side.

Out of the treatment room he may be, but Tudur Jones will not be happy until he has made it all the way to the pitch.

"I'm pleased that the team are doing well," the former Bangor City player insists. "The lads who are playing in midfield at the moment are the ones who did so well for the club last year and no-one can begrudge them being in the side now.

"They deserve this opportunity and there is not a lot someone like me can do as long as the team is winning.

"But every footballer wants to play and, after a good pre-season it's frustrating for me not to be involved."

Tudur Jones gave glimpses in July of the immense promise which has been forgotten by some as a result of his fitness troubles.

Arguably the best performer on Swansea's tour of Spain, he looked a good bet to make the first league line-up of the campaign.

But after the rest staked their claims in Swansea's later warm-up games, Martinez went for the tried and tested trio of Leon Britton, Ferrie Bodde and Darren Pratley.

No-one can argue that he did not get it right, for those three have bossed midfield in Swansea's three Championship outings to date.

On the bench, meantime, summer recruit Jordi Gomez has been the only midfield option.

"It's a strong area of the squad," Tudur Jones admits, "and everybody brings something different, which is good news for the club.

"It's great for me to be going back in and training every day.

"It makes a huge difference to where I was a year ago and two years ago because I missed both pre-seasons.

"This time the management know I've got a good pre-season under my belt and that I'm fit and ready when needed.

"Hopefully, that will be tonight."

Tudur Jones's one appearance to date this term came in round one of the Carling Cup, when Martinez changed every one of his outfield players and Swansea's understudies eased past League Two Brentford.

Hull City are the considerably more talented visitors to the Liberty Stadium in round two, but the Spaniard is expected to persist with his rotation policy.

"It was good to play against Brentford and hopefully there will be another chance against Hull," says Tudur Jones.

"It's a case of keeping yourself ticking over when you're not in the side and then trying to do well when the chance comes.

"I'll try to do okay if I'm picked and at the same time hopefully help the club progress to the next round, because I don't think we've got a great record in this competition."

Martinez maintains those players who have not begun the season in his league side are not back-up men, and believes they will be capable of upsetting Hull if given another run-out this evening.

Tudur Jones concurs with his boss, adding: "We have to have a strong squad when you look at the fixture list that lies ahead.

"And when you look at the players we've got, they all believe they can do a job in the first team.

"We're not talking about young lads who are unlikely to get a chance. We've got 14 or 15 players who are ready to step into the side."

Tudur Jones believes he will be better equipped to thrive at first-team level when his time comes thanks in part to his knee.

"I feel I'm more mature now and that I've developed as a player," says the Welsh international.

"All the games I've had to watch, I've been trying to get into my head what sort of qualities I will need to get picked by the manager.

"You have to do that in football because if you stand still, you'll get left behind."

And Tudur Jones plans to make more progress - just like Wales colleague and former club-mate Sam Ricketts.

The former Telford full-back returns to the Liberty tonight having played his first games in the Premier League in the last 10 days.

"Sam is a good lad who has done very well to work his way through from non-league football to the top flight," reckons Tudur Jones.

It could be that the big North Walian, still only 23, follows in Ricketts's footsteps by reaching the Premier League.

"Possibly," he says, "but I've a long way to go."

Step one is to make a mark tonight.