TRUNDLE DREAMS OF DERBY WINNER

SWANSEA idol Lee Trundle admits he is dreaming of scoring the derby winner against Cardiff.

And the striker, on loan from Bristol City, reckons sinking the Bluebirds at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday could help earn him a permanent contract in January.

Trundle's loan agreement runs until New Year's Day and he is desperate to win a Swans deal and avoid a return to Ashton Gate.

The 33-year-old believes he will take a giant step to securing a contract if he proves to be a South Wales derby hero.

Trundle said: "If I score goals then that's going to help me stay at Swansea. To score in the derby would be special - especially if it was the winner.

"Getting the winner in that game is something I dream about.

"My aim is to score as many goals as I can during this loan spell."

Trundle is set to start on the bench but boss Paulo Sousa is expected to give the Scouse maverick a taste of the action.

And he said: "I'm desperate to be involved. Ever since I came back to the club, I've been looking forward to this fixture. I spent four years at Swansea the first time and never played in a South Wales derby.

"I'd like to think it would very hard for the club not to offer me a contract if I scored the winner against Cardiff."

The Liberty hero has netted twice in five appearances for the Swans this season.

He is praying Sousa does not ignore him for the sell-out showdown against Dave Jones' promotion-chasers.

"I was at the Liberty last season for the Carling Cup game against Cardiff and the atmosphere that night was unbelievable," he added.

"I was sitting in the stand jealous of all the players who were involved.

"I'd never played for Swansea against Cardiff. They were in a higher division when I was first at the club and we never drew them in one of the cups.

"I sat there thinking I would never play in a South Wales derby - but now I've got the chance to be involved in one.

"There's so much at stake in these games. I'm chomping at the bit to play.

"Having lived in Swansea for a while I know what beating Cardiff means to people in the city."

Trundle is a hate figure among Cardiff fans after parading a Welsh flag daubed with an anti-Cardiff message following Swansea's Football League Trophy win in 2006.

The former Wrexham ace also donned an anti-Cardiff T-shirt and ended up receiving a police caution for his Millennium Stadium antics.

Stick

As a result. Trundle is expecting a barrage of stick from the 1,800 travelling fans if he steps onto the pitch.

But the unwanted Robin would relish silencing the Bluebirds hate mob.

He said, "I got stick playing against Cardiff for Bristol City but it will be completely different if I'm wearing a Swansea shirt.

"Cardiff-Bristol City is a big game but there's a lot more pride and passion in the South Wales derby.

"I always get stick from the Cardiff fans - and I tend to get a bit extra after what happened at the Millennium Stadium.

"But this is part and parcel of football and you've got to take it.

"Some players are affected by abuse from fans. It depends on the type of character you are. I use stick from the crowd to my advantage.

"I admit it's not nice when people are calling you names but I try and thrive on it.

"The Cardiff fans always give me a lot of stick and I actually take it as a compliment!

"I'd start worrying if they WEREN'T having a go. It means they're not worried about me."

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