Sidebar

20
Sat, Apr
26 New Articles

Typography

ROBERTO Martinez reckons Swansea City fans will see "a different Jason Scotland" in the second half of the season.

Scotland's solo strike at Blackpool last Saturday makes it nine goals in 19 Championship starts and four substitute appearances for the Trinidad & Tobago man.

That is a very healthy return for a striker who is playing in the second tier for the first time in his career.

But Martinez believes Scotland will improve as the campaign goes on because he does not have to worry about international football.

Swansea's top scorer has made three trips back to the Caribbean so far this term to represent his country.

But Scotland is not due back home again until March — and Martinez expects Swansea to benefit.

"Jason will get better," said the Swansea boss.

"His international commitments have really put a handbrake on his form, but he has been getting stronger and stronger since he last came back from Trinidad & Tobago duty.

"He has had stability in his daily work and you can see now that he is enjoying his football.

"I thought he kept the ball magnificently at Blackpool.

"He linked up really well and he was always a threat.

"It's very pleasing to see Jason enjoying his football like that because when he does, he is a magician."

Scotland is in the middle of his best goalscoring streak of the season, having netted two crackers against Barnsley a fortnight ago, plus a penalty in the draw with Sheffield United.

Swansea believe his less spectacular form earlier in the campaign was the result of energy-sapping trips around the world.

It is not only the travelling which concerns Martinez.

He has expressed worries over the intensity of T & T training and cannot understand why Scotland, after trekking home, has sometimes been left on the bench by his country.

"Jason is going to be with us for a while and he will get stronger as a result," the Spaniard added.

"We will see a different Jason Scotland in the second half of the season."

Martinez has continually stressed that he will not try to prevent Scotland from joining up with the T & T squad.

But he has again indicated that Swansea will demand certain assurances from the Soca Warriors over how they plan to use the former Dundee United man.

"We need to avoid Jason having these cameo roles and we will try to do what's best for him," Martinez went on.

"It's difficult for Jason. You want to play in the World Cup and it's a great opportunity for him.

"Jason doesn't want to let his country down and as a club we will try to help him, but we need to compromise.

"We are quite happy to take the risk and take some minutes out of his club performances when he is going to have a big role with Trinidad & Tobago.

"But if he is going to go there for a small role, we need to make sure he is able to carry on his success with us."