Jason Scotland has said that he has never been fully fit in a Swansea shirt

That in itself makes you wonder how many goals he would have scored had he been fit with the striker bagging 29 last season en route to the League One title and the League One golden boot in the process.

But he admits that he picked up a knock pre-season that hampered him all last season and he now believes that after his summer operation the fans will finally get the chance to see the best of him.

He says that the operation was a success and he is now pain-free and ready to continue his Swansea career with the aim of getting himself up to the level of popularity that Lee Trundle enjoyed before him.

Scotland was the fans player of the year last season and was also named in the PFA League One team of the year which sounds the more remarkable when you consider his injury confession.

Roberto has signed competition for the striker shirt this summer in the presence of Gorka Pintado whilst Guillem Bauza seems to have continued the goal scoring form that he enjoyed at the end of last season.  And with Febian Brandy back at the Liberty for another loan spell and the presence in the background at the moment of Stefan Morrison you would assume that strikers would have to be at the top of their game to get into the side this season.

Scotland told News of the World "I picked up a niggle on my right side last pre-season - somehow I caught the turf when shooting and that's how it all started.  It gradually got worse as time wore on and I knew there was a problem there.

"It did have an effect on my performances as I would have to use my left foot more than I would have liked.  My right side would be hurting so I would shift the ball to the other side so I could shoot without pain.

"I think I would have scored even more goals if I was fully fit.   I received treatment but it was a case of trying to get through the matches the best I could.

"That's why I needed the surgery in the summer and now I'm pain free I can hopefully do even better for Swansea.

"There's even more to come from me now.   At times my form must have suffered from the stomach problem.  It may have looked like I wasn't trying but I was in a bit of discomfort so I couldn't exert myself too much.

"Then I dislocated my toe which was painful but I managed to get through that with painkilling jabs.

"There was no chance I would miss the promotion party after everything I put myself through.  The pain was never going to stop me finishing the season although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the days to summer.

"Hopefully I can make a name for myself at Swansea and continue scoring goals.   Trundle was a big hero at this club and a few years down the line I might be as popular as he was.  I just go out and do my thing and score the goals.  I always back my ability and I think I can score quite a few goals in the Championship."

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