Swansea manager Nick Cusack is without a number of first-team players ahead of Saturday's home clash with Rushden & Diamonds.

Damien Lacey (feet), Jon Keaveny (bruised toe) and David Moss (knee) are all ruled out of the season-opener with their respective injuries.

Striker James Thomas came off after 20 minutes of Monday's 1-0 friendly win over Woking and the club are "marking his fitness" ahead of the game.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Roger Freestone, who was reported to be nursing an ankle ligament injury, has been named in the Swans squad.

Communications manager Peter Owen said: "We've had a busy summer and had a long pre-season, but there is a confident mood at the club.

Rushden boss Brian Talbot has a defensive headache for the season opener against Swansea at Vetch Field.

Centre-back Andy Tillson is rated 50-50 after limping off during the pre-season friendly with Peterborough with a hamstring problem.

Talbot will also be without his other recognised centre-back Mark Peters, who misses the start of the season following a bad knee injury sustained against Coventry.

That could leave the door open for youngster John Dempster, who could make his first League start for the club.

Long-term injury victims Richie Hanlon and Michael McElhatton are also out of contention, while midfielder Andy Burgess is suspended.

But Talbot is boosted by the news that defender Marcus Bignot has agreed a one-month contract with the club and goes straight into the squad.

Swansea City have lodged an appeal with the Football League for compensation from Gillingham over their signing of Mamady Sidibe. The 22-year-old French striker rejected a new deal to stay at the Vetch in June, instead joining Division One Gillingham on a three-year contract this week.

However, FIFA regulations brought in after the Bosman ruling allows a club to be compensated for its role in developing any player under the age of 24 who leaves on a free transfer. Swansea believe that they have contributed to Sidibe's development during his time at the Vetch.

The 6ft 4in Mali-born striker scored seven league goals last season after joining in July 2001 on a 12-month contract. We are entitled to some sort of financial reward for the part we played in developing Mama

Sidibe attracted interest from Queen's Park Rangers and Leicester City, while also holding talks with Barnsley. "Once we knew that he wasn't going to accept the new deal, we informed both the PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) and the Football League of our intention to seek compensation," Swansea chief executive, Don Goss, told the club's official website.

"We are entitled to some sort of financial reward for the part we played in developing Mama after giving him his opportunity in the UK. "An indication of his value can be taken from the £250,000 bid we received from Barnsley.

"We have been in touch with Gillingham in the last 24 hours to inform them of the situation and are awaiting their response."

SWANSEA CITY player-coach Nick Cusack was yesterday handed a boost ahead of the opening game of the season with the news that striker James Thomas should be fit to play.

The former Blackburn forward was rated as doubtful for Saturday's curtain-raiser against Rushden & Diamonds after bruising a shin during a warm-up match at Woking on Monday.

But the injury is not as bad as first feared and 23-year-old Thomas - who has been impressive in pre-season, scoring three times - should be fit.

"I'm pretty confident James will play on Saturday," said Swans physio Richard Evans.

"The problem is not as bad as we initially feared, but nevertheless we'll need to closely monitor James over the next couple of days." However, Cusack will definitely be without strikers David Moss and Jonathan Keaveny for the visit of Brian Talbot's side.

Keaveny, who signed from Carmarthen Town in June, is suffering from a bruised toe, while former Falkirk marksman Moss has failed to shake off the knee problem he picked up at Hednesford Town last week.

Midfielder Damian Lacey is another definite absentee after his long-standing foot problem flared up again.

Meanwhile, former Swans striker Mamady Sidibe is celebrating after signing a three-year deal with First Division Gillingham.

Mali-born Sidibe, who scored eight goals for Swansea last season but was released, joins the Kent club after impressing during a two-week trial.

Former Blackburn Rovers striker James Thomas should be fit to make his Swansea City league debut when the new Third Division season kicks off on Saturday.

The 23-year-old frontman appears to be winning his battle against a badly bruised shin and is set to the lead line for his hometown club when Rushden & Diamonds visit Vetch Field.

"We will continue to assess the situation for the rest of the week, " said assistant manager Alan Curtis, "but we're more than hopeful that he is going to be fit." There were concerns for Swansea's biggest summer acquisition when he limped off early in Monday's friendly win at Woking.

But the Morriston-product, who has scored three pre-season goals, was not as badly hurt as first feared and is back in training.

A young Swansea team won 3-0 at Welsh League Garden Village last night.

Michael Jackson gave them an interval lead from eight yards before Antonio Corbisiero added two more from close range in the 76th and 89th minutes.

Meanwhile, former Swan Jonathan Coates has seen his hopes of finding a new club before the weekend shattered by injury.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who made more appearances than anyone else in a Swansea shirt last term, suffered a suspected fractured shoulder playing for Oxford in pre-season game.

After a move to Bristol Rovers fell through and an unsuccessful trial at Northampton, Coates had been on trial at the Kassam Stadium for 10 days.

"His arm is being pinned and plated, and naturally I have got sympathy for him, " said Oxford boss Ian Atkins, who was thought to have been considering signing Coates.

"When trialists come down they put themselves on the line and this is all of his own cost. He is very, very unlucky because he was just trying to put himself in the shop window." Coates was one of 10 players released by Swansea boss Nick Cusack at the end of last season. Of those, only Steve Brodie has found a new club - Conference outfit Chester.

Gillingham have signed former Swansea striker Mamady Sidibe on a three-year contract.

The Frenchman, who left the Swans at the end of last season, has impressed Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler in pre-season friendlies. Sidibe, 22, attracted attention last year with his skill and aerial prowess and Hessenthaler feels there is more to come from him.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "Mamady's still very young and has got a lot to learn about the position but once he's got the ball he's very dangerous. "It's my job to coach him now and make him into a very good player.

"We see him as the future because we've got a lot of players who are 30-plus and we need to start bringing a few younger ones in."

SWANSEA CITY striker James Thomas faces a race against time to be fit for the opening game of the season against Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday.

The 23-year-old forward could be forced to miss the start of the new campaign after limping out of Swansea's final warm-up match at Woking on Monday with a shin injury.

The absence of Thomas would be a major blow to player-coach Nick Cu-sack who sees the former Wales Under-21 international as a "mas-sive" part of his revamped side.

And Thomas, one of the most impressive of Cusack's 10 summer signings, admitted he would be devastated if he failed to recover in time.

"I would be upset if I had to miss the Rushden game after all the hard work I've put in over the summer," said the former Blackburn striker.

"The last thing I want is to be out of the side before the season has even started. There are six strikers at the club which means competition for places is going to be tough.

"If I missed the Rushden game and someone did well, I could end up struggling to get back into the side."

Thomas, who arrived at the Vetch in June after struggling to break into the Blackburn first team, has bagged three goals during Swansea's pre-season campaign - including a double against Dutch side FC Den Haag.

The Swansea-born marksman scored after only six minutes to inflict a 1-0 defeat on Woking but had to be carried off in the 20th minute after getting a kick in the shin.

"It is bruised and a bit tender," he said. "I'm worried that it could be a bit fragile and don't want to do any more damage to it.

"But I will hopefully be OK to play against Rushden. I was out of action with injuries quite a bit last season and I don't want that again."

Thomas - who has also had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool, Sheffield United and Bristol Rovers - has carved out a place in Cusack's preferred XI after excelling in the warm-up matches.

Though Cusack has five other strikers at his disposal - Jamie Wood, David Moss, Steve Watkin, John Williams and Jonathan Keaveny - he admitted losing Thomas would be a major blow.

"James is a massive part of what we are trying to do at the Vetch and we want him fit to face Rushden," said the player-coach.

"Like all the players here, he has worked really hard over the pre-season. His attitude has been first-class and I'm pleased to have him on board.

"Not only has he scored a few goals, he has showed real class on the ball. He is definitely an exciting prospect for the new season."

Thomas won't be alone in aiming to make a fresh start on Saturday with Rushden looking to bounce back from their Third Division play-off disappointment.

Brian Talbot's side are among the promotion favourites after reaching the final at the Millennium Stadium last season where they lost out 3-1 to Cheltenham Town.

Talbot is confident the Diamonds, who thrashed Cusack's side 4-0 at

Nene Park in April, will be in good shape when they arrive at the Vetch on Saturday.

"We played Coventry City in a pre-season friendly at the weekend and I was happy with how we performed," said the former Ipswich and Arsenal player.

"I need to make a few tweaks here and there, but generally I am happy going into the first game of the season at Swansea."

Swansea City have been sent a good luck message ahead of the new Third Division season from a football team on the other side of the world - Swansea City.

The well wishers are an under-8 side in New Zealand run by Tim Katzen, brother of Vetch Field director Brian, who is pictured with the team. In a league made up of teams named after professional clubs, they recently changed their name from Ipswich Town after Brian sent over a batch of Swansea shirts.

Woking 0 Swansea City 1 (Thomas 8 mins)

SWANSEA CITY: Marsh, Jenkins (Corbisiero 62), Smith (Howard 62), O'Leary (Surman 62), Theobald (Sharp 62), Evans (Jones 62), Phillips (Jackson 62), Murphy (Mumford 53), Thomas (Williams 20), Wood (Watkin 62), Reid (De-Vulgt 62). Sub not used: Cole.

ATTENDANCE: 1,500

SWANSEA City chief Nick Cusack last night fired a warning to his side's Third Division rivals insisting: "We're ready for the challenge ahead." The committed Yorkshireman spoke after his side's testing victory over Woking in the heart of leafy suburban Surrey - the Vetch club's third preseason victory.

Former Welsh Under-21 international James Thomas - the striker who could not get a game at Blackburn - nodded the winner in the eighth minute at Kingfield Stadium.

But Cusack must have been lifted by other key performers too.

A clutch of his 10 summer captures shone, in particular Dave Smith and Paul Reid.

The pair have a combined age of 68 years between them but they harbour the deadly guile of a pack of foxes around a chicken pen and the energy levels of teenagers.

Reid, 34, who includes Huddersfield, Oxford and Bury among his previous stops, was everywhere, notably retreating to defence as Kris O'Leary advanced to add his muscle to set-pieces.

And Smith, capped 10 times for the England Under-21s, appears a shrewd signing.

The former Coventry, Birmingham and West Brom player is settling nicely and is likely to be at the hub of a wheel which would hope to trundle towards the Second Division gates next spring.

Thomas, too, has a point to prove and started to make it by netting last night. Reid fired in the perfect right-side corner and Dave Theobald - another solid new recruit - rose to knock back for the goal.

The 23-year-old Thomas limped off on 19 minutes - helped off the pitch, unable to put the weight on his foot after a bone-shuddering challenge with Robert Kember.

Now Cusack will get out the prayer mat and hope he recovers to make Saturday's home League curtain raiser with Rushden & Diamonds.

Brian Talbot's Rushden first, and then exhausting treks to Darlington and Bury come within the first week of the season, but Cusack said: "We'll be ready for the challenge. Up to now it's been a bit of a phoney war - just like a bout of shadow boxing.

"We've played a series of pre-season games, but this latest one at Woking was more like the standard we'll face in Division Three.

"We know we'll have to step up a gear for Rushden, but I think we've showed good progress up to now.

"It's a big day on Saturday.

There are three points at stake, but it's a marvellous opportunity to get our campaign under way in a successful manner."

Star Swansea City striker James Thomas is in a race to be fit for Saturday's Nationwide League opener with Rushden & Diamonds.

The 23-year-old frontman could be forced out of the crunch Vetch Field clash after limping out of last night's 1-0 pre-season win at Woking.

Having scored what turned out to be the winning goal eight minutes in to Swansea's final preparation game for the weekend, Thomas hobbled off clutching his shin only 12 minutes later after a challenge with Woking's Robert Kember.

He was today due for further assessment at the Vetch, with Nick Cusack desperate to see his most potent attacking force passed fit for the the Third Division's big kick-off.

"Thommo did take a knock but I am hopeful that it will not be a serious cause for concern, " said Swansea's playermanager, "we will be monitoring the situation though." The loss of Thomas, who has three pre-season goals since his summer switch from Blackburn, would be a major blow to Cusack's plans as he looks for a winning start.

His other injury concerns are Dave Moss (knee) and Damian Lacey (foot).

Rushden have injury problems of their own with defender Mark Peters ruled out yesterday.

With Andy Tillson also crocked, Brian Talbot has only two fit centre-backs at his disposal.

Andrew Mumford, meanwhile, who has been called into the Wales Under-21 squad. Mumford will attend a four-day training camp starting on August 17 - though he will available for Swansea's trip to Bury - as Jimmy Shoulder prepares his squad for the European Championship qualifiers.

A mixture of Swansea youth players and reserves will face Garden Village at Stafford Common tonight (7pm) as part of the Welsh League club's 80th-anniversary celebrations.

Football League chairman Keith Harris and chief executive David Burns may have to resign following the failed court case against ITV Digital. A High Court judge ruled on Thursday that parent companies Carlton and Granada were not liable for the £178.5 debt of ITV Digital.

The news came as a massive blow to the Football League's hopes of recovering lost TV revenue from the broadcasting rights deal which was signed in June 2000, and Mr Justice Langley's ruling has left many lower league clubs facing an uncertain financial future.

Much of the criticism following last week's ruling has been directed at Harris and Burns, and Harris on Sunday admitted that his position at League headquarters was now seriously in doubt. He said: "If the League chairmen want heads to roll, and if this is a cock-up that demands heads to roll, then I'm not going to stand in anyone's way.

"I'm capable of being self-critical, and I personally examined all of the events very carefully.

"We have a board meeting on Tuesday and by that stage other members of the board will have talked to their colleagues - the chairmen of the other clubs - and the situation will become clearer.

"They'll either vote me in or out of a job," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

HAVERFORDWEST....................2 SWANSEA CITY..........................3

A VINTAGE Nick Cusack strike just nine minutes from the death staved off a nightmare for the Swans in deepest West Wales.

Sunlit New Bridge Meadow looked a real picture. It's only a 30 minute drive to the holiday playground of Tenby and Saundersfoot from this stadium, but it was certainly no busmen's break for Swansea.

First half goals from Grant James and Chris O'Sullivan had threatened to embarrass Cusack. Both men are Swans' rejects -the latter departed the Vetch just three months ago.

Midfielder O'Sullivan, 19, was one of ten shown the door days after Swansea's FAW Premier Cup final against Cardiff at Ninian Park.

But at least he had his moment in interval stoppage time - this after Jonathan Keaveny and Neil Sharp had put Swansea in front with James's goal sandwiched in between.

Scything through the Swans' static back four the linkman's low 14-yard drive fizzed past the outstretched hand of Simon Cole.

And he was savouring that later beaming: "I really enjoyed the moment. When Swansea released me I thought my world had ended.

"It's taken me a long time to get over it. "Swansea got rid of me because of financial circumstances - I know that now. There's certainly no hard feelings."

Meanwhile, Swans boss Cusack recalled the heart-wrenching day he released O'Sullivan and said: "It was the worst few hours of my life.

"But I had to find the ruthless streak in me."

Cusack's scowl turned to a grin as he thought of his late winner, though. He declared: "It's been a few years since I struck one like that."

The Swans' player-manager included himself in a line-up studded by nine men with first team experience. Of the 10 summer signings, former Cheltenham mid-fielder Mike Jackson slotted into a left side midfield role, Keaveny into attack.

But the Bluebirds had players in their armoury who were clearly on a mission. There was O'Sullivan and James and they were jointed by ex-Wrexham favourite Deryn Brace, who has recently succeeded John Lewis in his club's hotseat.

Haverfordwest went one down after only three minutes.

Cusack played a sublime angled ball in to Andy Mumford who squared for Keaveny to steer into an empty net.

But the plucky Bluebirds were hitting back on 19 minutes. Brace nodded over and the Swans looked startled as destroyer Sharp almost diverted Wayne Price's left side cross into his own net.

The League of Wales minnows were deservedly level six minutes later as O'Sullivan and James combined to make their point.

Midfielder O'Sullivan found willing striker James, whose right footer whistled past Cole.

But Haverfordwest soon trailed again as Swansea turned the screw on 32 minutes.

Shaven-headed Sharpe rose to power in a second and the relentless visitors promised a goal blitz. Bluebirds stopper Gary Haman had to make a battery of super saves from Stuart Jones, Keaveny and Cusack.

But the West Walians - in particular O'Sullivan - were having the last word in first half stoppage time - the former Swansea man pulling the trigger from just inside the area.

Stunned Swansea searched for a quick-fire counter early into the restart and the leaping Haman had to be at his brilliant best to foil Cusack and Sharp.

Haman was replaced by local boy Peter Blain after 62 minutes - and he pulled off another stunning save from Sharp.

But the keeper was fishing the ball out of his net late on as Cusack rolled back the years.

"THIS club just can't seem to shake me off" is Swansea City legend Alan Curtis's honest, if tongue in cheek, appraisal of his time at the Vetch Field.

But he's all too aware that if things go pear-shaped for the new-look Swans in Division Three, he may walk out of the door for the last time sooner than he has planned.

"Football is the only thing I have ever done but I realise I cannot keep turning up at the Vetch," he said.

"The last time I walked out in an official capacity I did not think I would be back.

"Me and John Hollins were both dismissed together - on the day after the September 11 terrorist atrocities. At least that enabled me to put the whole thing in a little bit better perspective.

"But I know what it is like to pay the price for poor results and I have seen it happen to better men than me.

"Everyone is under pressure, there is no getting away from it.

"Things are all positive at the moment, though. We are looking forward to the start of the league campaign and we are also excited about our Worthington Cup tie against Wolves which will give us £100,000 in television money."

It has been a period of rebuilding this summer for Swansea and a raft of new signings will need to gel quickly if they are to make the flying start in Division Three that is always crucial to a promotion assault.

They have had a mixed pre-season that has featured a tour to Holland, but Curtis reckons there could be a good omen about the indifferent form in the past few weeks.

Back in August 1981, the Swans had just been promoted to the old First Division and Curtis was the star of a fabulous 5-0 opening day success against Leeds United.

"That year we had been abroad as well, to Yugoslavia, but our form had been up and down," he recalled.

"We had beaten Luton in our last pre-season game and we actually went in confident.

"But that is what we can do this time, too.

"This time last year we were targeting going up to Division Two but for a lot of reasons that just never materialised.

"Hopefully though we will have a far more settled time of things off the field.

"We have brought in 10 new players and they in turn have brought in new habits.

"It has lifted the mood around here. Suddenly there are new voices to be heard. We have mixed it up a little bit with a few early morning starts, but the lads have responded well." Now the real business starts of putting league results on the board.

And while Curtis is more than happy with the early attitude of the new-look squad, he has called on them to show their mettle and produce it when it really matters - starting with next week's opening game at home to Rushden and Diamonds.

"This is the acid test for us now and we

all know that," said Curtis.

"All I can say at the moment is that while no group of players could be more determined, the nature of football is that if we don't perform there will be changes.

"What we need to do is get some early wins on the board and make winning a habit."