By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

Gorka Pintado has learned one four-letter word for a missed penalty and another to describe the Welsh rain.

But if his English expletives are coming on nicely, his superlatives need work.

The man from San Sebastian reckons it will be mid-season before he can speak the local lingo following his summer move to Swansea City.

Hence he has probably not realised the scale of the impression made in his first few outings as a Swan.

The plaudits have been flying in Pintado's direction following his startling contribution to the midweek Carling Cup victory over Hull City.

Summoned from bench early in the second half, the powerful striker turned the contest on its head.

The Tigers' 1-0 lead was soon wiped out and Jordi Gomez gave Swansea deserved victory over their Premier League opponents in extra time.

Pintado netted the leveller, but he might easily have scored five.

"I got some minutes on the pitch and I tried to do my best to help the team win," he says through part-time interpreter Angel Rangel.

"The Hull goalkeeper played well.

"He saved a few from me but the most important thing was that I got the chances.

"You will score when you get chances and that's good for the team."

Hull was not the first time Pintado had filled the supersub role with spectacular consequences.

Swansea's fans got a first glimpse of what the new man could do when he climbed off the bench to kill off Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks back with a terrific first-time finish.

That goal came from the outside of Pintado's right boot, while the Hull strike was a glancing header.

The big man had another header cleared off the line on Tuesday and was twice denied by Hull keeper Matt Duke, who turned away a bicycle kick and Pintado's stoppage-time penalty.

Even that last-gasp miss could not take away from Pintado's overall performance, in which he lived up to his billing as a complete centre-forward.

And Roberto Martinez did nothing to quell the excitement surrounding his recently-acquired prize asset.

In fact he did the opposite, claiming Pintado would be worth anything between £4million and £7million in the British transfer market.

That is quite a declaration, particularly when you consider it cost Swansea only £70,000 to bring him over from Spain.

The mystery is why Pintado has not come to prominence before reaching 30 years of age.

He has spent the vast majority of his career operating in the Spanish lower leagues, with a two-year stint in the second tier with CD Leganes as high he has gone.

"I was 24 then, I couldn't play as many minutes as I wanted to and didn't get the chance to score goals," he explains.

"My job is to score goals for the team. I have got 18 a season for the last three years and now I want to get as many as I can for Swansea City."

Martinez reckons Pintado has been playing beneath his level because the financial rewards are actually better in Segunda B - the third level - than the Segunda División.

There is also a suggestion that anyone who fails to make an impression by the age of 24 in Spain is cast aside by the bigger clubs and forgotten about.

Whatever the truth, Swansea have offered Pintado a Championship chance and, after a lengthy pursuit, their persistence looks like paying off.

"I'm pleased with two goals so far," Pintado adds.

"But I have got some pain in my back and that's stopping me getting better.

"I want to get some continuity. I want to play more minutes to help us win games."

Despite the language barrier - and the dismal weather - Pintado is settling smoothly into life at the Liberty Stadium.

"The mentality of football is different from Spain," he says, "and I'm enjoying it more here.

"The supporters have a different attitude and they were very important for us against Hull.

"They were shouting all the time, even when we were losing, and thanks to them we were able to score two goals and win."

Most would argue that Pintado was the key to Swansea's revival, but then modesty appears to be a trait.

When asked if he could play in the Premier League, he looks surprised that it is even being suggested.

"I don't know," he says through a smile, "but I hope I can with Swansea."

With each week that passes just now, one or two more onlookers are taking the view that Swansea in the top flight is not an impossible dream.

One thing seems certain - with Pintado around, their chances of making it have significantly improved.