Swansea City player-manager Nick Cusack could wield the axe ahead of his side's clash with Bournemouth. Cusack was unhappy with his side's performance in the 3-2 defeat against Bury and summer signing Dave Moss, yet to make an appearance after suffering a knee injury, could get his chance.

Goalkeeper Roger Freestone has a "70-30" chance of playing after an astounding recovery from a foot injury.

Striker James Thomas (foot) and defender Jason Smith (groin) are expected to be available.

The Swans are hopeful midfielder Dave Smith (groin) will also make it after he declared himself fit to face the Cherries.

Bournemouth manager Sean O'Driscoll will choose between his two on-loan goalkeepers for the trip to Swansea.

Portsmouth's Chris Tardif has played the first three games of the season but O'Driscoll has brought in Jamie Ashdown from Reading for an initial month.

Tardif was signed as cover for first-choice Gareth Stewart, but the Cherries number one injured an ankle on the eve of the season and will be out another 10 weeks, leading to the move for Ashdown.

As well as Stewart, club captain Steve Fletcher remains sidelined with a knee injury, but defender Neil Young is back in contention after missing the 1-1 draw with Cambridge last weekend as a precaution following a long spell out injured

SWANSEA CITY were last night "cautiously optimistic" that Roger Freestone would complete a speedy recovery from a damaged foot in time to play his 500th league game for the club against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper, who will also pass the milestone of 600 total appearances, was in severe pain during the 3-2 defeat at Bury last weekend and the initial prognosis was that he had broken a bone in his right foot. But an X-ray revealed the damage to be less serious - he has injured ligaments between the bones - and yesterday Freestone successfully came through an intensive fitness session.

"Considering the shape he was in during the Bury game, Roger has made a fantastic recovery," said physio Richard Evans.

"The alarm bells started ringing when the doctors were treating the injury like a fracture, but there is no break in the foot. "Roger has come on really well in the past two days. I gave him a thorough work-out and he was kicking balls the length of the pitch, jumping and landing without a problem. "We'll have to make sure there's no negative reaction on Thursday morning, but I'm cautiously optimistic he will be OK for Saturday."

Player-coach Nick Cusack has arranged for an experienced goal-keeper to sign on loan should Freestone not be fit to face Bournemouth. Meanwhile, defender Jason Smith (groin) is doubtful and, with captain Kris O'Leary beginning a three-match ban, David Theobald would make his first appearance of the season alongside Neil Sharp and Terry Evans in defence.

David Smith is set to hand Swansea City player-boss Nick Cusack a timely injury boost by declaring himself fit for Saturday's clash with Bournemouth.

The left wing-back limped off 56 minutes into last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Bury with a groin problem.

But while he is still undergoing treatment, the former Coventry star should be okay to face the Cherries.

Fellow summer signing Dave Moss, who has yet to feature for his new club because of a knee complaint, will also be fit as Cusack searches for a first victory of the new Third Division campaign.

Centre-back Jason Smith sat out training yesterday nursing his long-term foot problem, but he, too, should be available this weekend along with Gareth Phillips (dead leg) and James Thomas (bruised foot).

Swansea are monitoring the fitness of Roger Freestone who is very doubtful but Damian Lacey (feet) is definitely out.

Swansea have dismissed suggestions that Exeter's Arjan Van Heusden is set for a move to the Vetch on loan as cover for Freestone, despite St James' Park boss John Cornforth suggesting a deal could be on the cards.

"Arjan has done brilliantly for me and I want to help the lad as much as I can, " the former Swans star told the Exeter Express and Star. "I've been in touch with Nick Cusack at Swansea and it might be a case of Arjan going there on loan." Swansea have revealed that next month's mouthwatering Worthington Cup first-round meeting with First Division Wolves will not be an all-ticket game.

The only change from a league match will be in the Family Stand, which has been allocated to the Wolves Members' Club.

Former Swansea City director Mel Nurse is offering two season tickets for Vetch Field to the highest bidder to raise money or Swansea goalkeeper Roger Freestone's testimonial.

The East Stand tickets are valued at £250 each and anyone who wants to bid should ring 07768 507695 before noon on Friday, leave their bid and contact number.

The highest bidder will be able to pick up the tickets from the club shop before Saturday's home game with Bournemouth.

Nurse said:

"'Roger has been a very good servant to this football club. It would be fantastic to raise a lot of money for him. So please be generous by supporting Roger."'

Swansea City boss Nick Cusack was today expected to meet club directors to discuss the possibility of signing a goalkeeper on loan.

The Vetch Field player-manager should be given the green light to bring in an experienced stopper with Roger Freestone set for a spell on the sidelines.

Former Welsh international Freestone yesterday spent most of his 34th birthday undergoing tests on his foot at Morriston Hospital.

And though there was no sign of the fracture first feared by Cusack, X-rays showed some ligament damage had been suffered during last Saturday's disappointing 3-2 reverse at Bury.

"Usually, such an injury would mean as long a spell out of action as a break would, " explained physio Richie Evans. "The good news is that Roger is able to walk on it without any real pain, although it is still very tender to touch.

"At this stage he has to be considered a very serious doubt not only for Saturday's game against Bournemouth, but the trip to Bristol Rovers next Tuesday as well." Cusack could hand No. 2 goalkeeper Andrew Marsh his chance in Freestone's absence this weekend and bring promising youth stopper Simon Cole onto the bench.

But it seems more likely that he will dip into the loan market than give 18-year-old Marsh his league debut.

Striker Steve Watkin, meanwhile, has been banned for two games following his dismissal for foul and abusive language at Bury.

The 31-year-old frontman will miss the visit of York in 11 days' time and the clash with Hartlepool the following weekend.

Former Swansea defender Chris Todd, released by Cusack in May, is hoping to win a contract with Irish Premier League outfit Drogheda.

qThird Division Lincoln are set to file a report to the Football Association after an alleged brawl between Carlisle chairman John Courtenay, striker Richie Foran and Lincoln stewards during the Cumbrians' controversial 1-0 win on Saturday.

Tempers ran high at Sincil Bank as referee Paul Robinson sent off four players, awarded two hotly-disputed penalties and provoked what Lincoln chairman Rob Bradley described as 'mischief' in the directors' box.

Nick Cusack was today anxiously waiting for news on the fitness of goalkeeper Roger Freestone.

Swansea City's No 1 was in severe discomfort during the 3-2 defeat at Bury on Saturday and cut a beleaguered figure as he limped onto the team bus.

Player-manager Cusack insisted he did not turn to 18-year-old reserve keeper Andrew Marsh at Gigg Lane because he wanted to use his three permitted substitutions to make outfield alterations.

But with Freestone suffering a suspected broken bone in his foot, the former Welsh international could be forced to sit it out when Bournemouth come to Vetch Field this Saturday.

Whether Cusack would then hand ex-Pontardawe player Marsh his Football League debut or look to bring in a more experienced stopper on loan is unclear.

''It's a bit hasty to make pronouncements about what I'll do goalkeeper-wise until we find out what's wrong with Rog, '' he said.

''He has had trouble with his ankles, but I think this is a separate, fresh injury. It may be a slight chip in a bone in his foot.

''I did consider putting Marshy on but Rog is a very resilient character who probably would have refused to come off anyway.

''And if I had made a substitution, my options would have been reduced elsewhere. We needed a comeback and to be fair we benefited from the changes we did make.'' He continued: ''I'm very happy with Marshy. He's worked very hard and can improve, though he's very young so we don't know how he would cope with starting in the league.

''We brought him in because we expected Rog to miss very few games, as has been the case throughout his career. We didn't want an understudy on £600 or £700 a week who never plays.'' David Smith (groin) is another injury concern after limping off on Saturday, while skipper Kristian O'Leary also had to be replaced with a thigh problem.

He is now suspended anyway and should recover during his enforced threematch lay-off.

Another player facing a ban - and the wrath of Cusack - is Steve Watkin, who was sent off eight minutes from time at Bury for swearing at the referee.

''We can't have that sort of stupid behaviour from an experienced player, '' added Cusack.

''It's hard enough anyway without going down to 10 men.

''All of a sudden we've got Kris missing for three games through suspension and Steve missing three and I plan to clamp down on it now.''

If Swansea City had defended at Bury on Saturday with the vigour shown by Nick Cusack as he lashed out afterwards, they might have lasted the first week of the new season undefeated.

For the 36-year-old player-manager, who spent most of the 90 minutes shaking his head on the Gigg Lane touchline, was firmly on the offence as far as defence was concerned.

Three goals easily conceded against a side branded terrible by their own boss in midweek, plus only two from Swansea thanks to a suspect penalty and an own goal, equalled a severe dressing down from the man in charge.

"The players know exactly what I feel about that performance, " Cusack said after emerging from a rather subdued away changing room.

"I'm not one of these managers who is going to single out individuals, but there are some people living on past reputations in there and they know who they are.

"I need people to start to think seriously about what their contribution to the team is because at times they look like non-league players and they need to perform at a much higer level."

Neil Sharp, who did ply his trade in non-league football not so long ago, can look forward to his first start of the season next weekend as Cusack searches for a successful formula at the back.

The former Merthyr centre-back arrived shortly before half-time on Saturday in place of the injured Kris O'Leary and was hailed by Cusack as Swansea's best defender.

Sharp did not do anything sensational, just snapped at Bury heels and won his share in the air.

Cusack's praise gives an indication of his views on the rest of the backline, which as yet has not looked like producing the miserly form needed for a successful season.

After ankle surgery in the summer and now a thigh problem, skipper O'Leary has yet to reach the personal heights of last term, when he was Swansea's top performer behind Andrew Mumford. He will be hoping for better after serving his impending three-match ban.

Jason Smith, who Cusack described as the best defender in Division Three last spring, is another who is still to return to his best after injury.

The last member of Cusack's opening week back-three, Terry Evans, is a full-back playing out of position.

The diminutive former Barry player looks in good nick but is fighting a losing battle against big, burly lower league targetmen.

Perhaps it is not supposed to happen, but too often in the first three games of the campaign Evans has had the unenviable and almost impossible task of trying to beat players a foot or more taller than him in the air.

"I don't think there's a lack of battling qualities, it's just that we need to be stronger mentally and physically, " continued Cusack.

"We've got to stop conceding so many goals - two in the first two games and now three. And while it's all right people saying they'll be better next week, I'm going to have to take it out of their hands.

"Defensively they were much more resolute and gave our forwards a hard time every time they got the ball.

"Unfortunately, our defenders are allowing forwards to dominate them and we're letting in sloppy goals. I bet Bury would like to play us very week." Probably. On the back of relegation and a dismal showing in their first week down in the Nationwide League basement, Andy Preece's side were vulnerable at kick-off.

But rather than going for the jugular, Swansea did their bit to help their hosts settle down.

Their slow start was punished just nine mintes in, when George Clegg pounced on Gareth Phillips's weak clearance to crash home the opener.

A second goal was rightly disallowed for handball before more woeful defending allowed Jon Newby to double the home side's advantage.

Lee Unsworth was given the freedom of the right flank and then saw his low cross somehow evade four Swansea players before Newby connected.

John Williams arrived at the break as Cusack switched to 3-4-3 and for a time his side took control.

Steve Watkin got a header wrong, before Thomas went down under Steve Redmond's challenge.

Thanks to the referee's assistant, the spot-kick was given despite apparent contact with the ball.

After his first effort was saved, Thomas tapped in the rebound to give Swansea hope, before Danny Swailes inexplicably headed Williams's long throw into his own net. Somehow, it seemed, Cusack's men had salvaged a point.

But there was one more mix-up at the back to come just two minutes later.

Roger Freestone, who limped badly through the second period, managed to steer Martyn Forrest's sighter past the post, but the resulting corner wreaked havoc and Swailes emerged to make amends for his earlier gaffe.

Watkin's dismissal for something said to the ref as the clock ticked down only rubbed salt in Cusack's wounds.

For the healing process to begin when Bournemouth come to the Vetch next Saturday, the Swansea boss must first tend to his ailing defence.

Swansea City have snapped up Wales Under-19 defender Geraint Frowen.

The 18-year-old Pontyclun product has penned a one-year deal at Vetch Field after impressing youth development boss Wayne Powell in a month-long trial spell with the club.

The right-sided youngster returns to Wales after being released by Leicester City at the end of last season.

Swansea will take over the final 12 months of the three-year scholarship he started at Leicester before deciding whether to hand him a senior contract next summer.

"Geraint will add a bit of quality to the under-19 side without a doubt, " said Powell.

"He has had two years' experience with a Premiership side and his involvement with the Welsh side should also stands him in good stead."

CAPTAIN Kris O'Leary, who misses the next three games through suspension, has urged his Swansea City colleagues to "put things right" in his absence.

The 24-year-old defender admitted the performance against Bury was unacceptable and believes there must be an immediate improvement.

"I'm disappointed to be missing the next three games, but the lads have got to put things right in that time," said O'Leary, who was dismissed against Rushden & Diamonds in the first game of the season for a double-footed challenge.

"We're not playing well, but I'm sure the players can get things going - it is a case of having to.

"Against Bury we didn't play well as a team and individually we have to look at ourselves and ask a few questions."

Nick Cusack made it plain he was not happy with the defending at Darlington and Bury last week and after Saturday's defeat the player-coach accused some play-ers of "living on past reputations".

"The manager is entitled to his opinions and if he thinks there is complacency in the side, then fair enough," said O'Leary.

"But I don't think that is the case - you can't afford to be complacent when there are others waiting to take your place.

"I believe we're just not playing well, though I can't put my finger on what is wrong."

The Port Talbot-born defender was forced to come off after only

36 minutes against Bury with a thigh strain.

"I picked up the injury against Darlington and perhaps I shouldn't have played on Saturday," he said.

"With me being suspended for three games, I'll have time to recover fully and concentrate on being fit to come back after serving the ban."

Roger Freestone will have an X-ray this morning to determine the extent of an injury which left him hobbling in agony as Swansea City crashed to a miserable first defeat of the season at relegated Bury.

The long-serving goalkeeper, who celebrates his 34th birthday today, could barely stand during the second half at Gigg Lane, wincing with pain each time he collected a cross or made a kick.

It crowned a depressing afternoon for the Swans, whose atrocious defending led furious player-coach Nick Cusack to accuse some players of "living on past reputations."

And with Freestone suffering a succession of debilitating injuries this year - he needed an operation on both troublesome ankles in the summer and had a recurrence of a long-standing back problem - Cusack could have the added headache of whether to sign another 'keeper on loan as back-up or place his trust in Freestone's inexperienced deputy, 18-year-old Andrew Marsh.

"I want to play 46 games this season, though my fitness will dictate that and these injuries aren't helping," admitted the Newport-born stopper.

Marsh was on the bench at Gigg Lane but, bizarrely, Cusack used his three substitutes elsewhere meaning Freestone played through the pain barrier.

"I don't think it was the ankles flaring up again as the problem seemed to be below them," said the goalkeeper. "I was in a lot of pain in the second half, especially when I had to change direction, and it felt sore, but it didn't cross my mind to come off at half-time.

"I will have an X-ray on Monday to see what the damage is, bandage it up and rest before, fingers crossed, being fit for the Bournemouth game on Saturday."

Swansea were overwhelmed by a far-superior Bury team who, on this evidence, will be saying goodbye to the Third Division next May and returning from whence they came.

Cusack's men were 2-0 down at half-time thanks to some fundamentally poor defending, George Clegg and Jon Newby both unmarked to score in the 10th and 37th minutes respectively.

Swansea had some good spells, but largely struggled to retain possession, hoofing the ball clear from defence rather than holding onto it which only served to invite further Bury pressure.

The icing on the cake was the dismissal of the recalled Steve Watkin in the 83rd minute for using "foul and abusive language" and Cusack did nothing to hide his fury about it all.

"I won't criticise players by name, but they know who they are and I can tell you that some are living on past reputations," said the 36-year-old player-coach.

"People have got to start thinking seriously about what their contribution to the team is because, at times, some of them looked like non-league players.

"Defending is about having mental strength more than anything - I know because I've played there myself.

"But the way we are conceding goals at the moment (seven in the first three games) is something I've got to sort out.

"It's all right players saying to me, undefinedI'll be better this week,' but I'm going to have to take it out of their hands."

Swansea pulled level when James Thomas netted his second goal of the season from the spot and Bury defender Danny Swailes found the back of his own net with a backward header.

But Swailes turned from villain to hero in the space of two minutes, tapping in Newby's cross from two yards to give the Lancashire club a deserved victory.

It was an off-the-ball tangle which led to Watkin's outburst and a shameful red card for the 31-year-old striker near the end.

"Steve made an abusive comment to the referee and, for an experienced professional like him, it is not acceptable," said Cusack, who is already without captain Kris O'Leary for the next three games after his dismissal against Rushden & Diamonds.

"It's hard enough to come to places like Bury and get a result without losing players through indiscipline and stupid behaviour."

SWANSEA'S luck ran out in their bid for a first victory of the season as Danny Swailes turned from villain to hero for Bury. City had hauled back a two-goal deficit through a questionable penalty and a Swailes own goal but the Shakers defender hit back moments later to deservedly hand Bury their first points of the campaign.

The real damage was done in a miserable first period for the visitors whose defence was regularly breached. The Swans could have easily been three or four behind by the interval. It took just nine minutes for Shakers to open their home account, with George Clegg curling in. The lead could have been doubled had the referee not spotted Jamie Stuart's 'hand of God' moment as he forced the ball into the net.

With Swansea offering little in the way of attack, a second goal was always on the cards and Jon Newby duly obliged after 36 minutes.

There appeared no way back for the visitors until a dubious penalty decision for an alleged foul on James Thomas, who calmly slotted home at the second attempt.

The scores were levelled on 78 minutes when Swailes headed in, but he atoned for his blunder just two minutes later when he forced home a Newby lay-off.

Bury .................................3 Swansea City ..................2 SWANSEA made one change to the side who grabbed a point at Darlington in mid-week - Steve Watkin returning for Jamie Wood, who was relegated to the bench.

The cash-crippled Shakers, who had just emerged from administration, had made an alarmingly bad start to the campaign, losing their opening two League fixtures.

Player / boss Andy Preece drafted on loan Manchester City midfielder TerryDunfield and it seemed to do the trick as his men stormed ahead on 10 minutes.

Swansea paid a huge penalty for Gareth Phillips' poor defensive header - former Manchester United trainee George Clegg lashing in from 12 yards.

The Swans fell further behind on 37 minutes.

Their powder-puff defence cracked open again along Lee Unsworth to gallop down the right before Jon Newby curled home from deep in the box.

Swansea had threatened little in a dire first-half showing and they were glad to hear the interval whistle giving them the opportunity to regroup. HT: Bury 2 Swansea City 0.

Swansea brought on ex-Cardiff striker Tom Williams and Andy Mumford for Gareth Phillips and Dave Smith in a ploy to switch from 4-3-3.

However, their bravery almost back-fired. Newby began a fiery run which took him into the right side of the penalty area, though Paul Abbott's shot lacked the pace to trouble 'keeper Freestone.

Swansea grabbed a lifeline after 63 minutes. James Thomas was tripped in the box by former Manchester City star Steve Redman, but the Welsh under-21 cap got to his feet to steer the ball into the net.

Swansea were continuing to roar forward as the clock ticked down and Mumford saw a 25 yard rocket fly inches just over the bar.

A Danny Swailes own goal put the Swans on level terms, but that lasted just two minutes as the Bury player redeemed himself by scoring his side's winner.

Late in the game, Swansea had Watkin sent off for foul and abusive language.

DELIGHTED Danny Swailes went from villain to hero within the space of two minutes to give Bury their first victory since dropping into Division Three. Swailes appeared to have cost his team mates their win bonus when he headed in an own goal 12 minutes from time. But the big centre half atoned for his error by getting on the end of a Jon Newby shot to force in a priceless winner and end Swansea’s unbeaten start for the campaign.

However, it would have been rough justice had Andy Preece’s team not claimed their win at sun drenched Gigg Lane. They dominated a Swansea side including Bury old boys Paul Reid and Matt Murphy. And only a controversial penalty just after the hour brought the Welshman back into contention.

But that’s the way things have gone in the first week of the season for the Shakers - beaten by a dubious goal against Cambridge last Tuesday and brought down by a unlikely penalty at Oxford last Saturday. This time, though, there was a happy ending much to the delight of player boss Preece who gave a debut in midfield to Manchester City’s Canadian born starlet Terry Dunfield.

“I have told them they have got to fight against everything this season,” said Preece. “That’s why I’m so proud of them this afternoon. “We had a penalty given against us that never was and then scored an own goal to be back to 2:2 after being two nil up. “It was a case of which way do we go, but we showed a lot of character and a lot of bottle.

“Now, it’s up to us to do it in every single game. They answered a lot of questions but there’s no point doing it once every three games. “Terry Dunfield had a good game and kept pushing us forward like I knew he would.”

The match was also a triumph for Newby and George Clegg. Newby’s goal after a good cross by Lee Unsworth was his first in eight games dating back to March 23rd. For Clegg, it was his second goal in three games and he now becomes top scorer.

But Bury’s hard work appeared to be undone when Swansea were awarded their penalty. Steve Redmond looked to have taken the ball cleanly from the feet of James Thomas but a spot kick was awarded instead. Glynn Garner saved the shot but Thomas followed up to reduce Swansea’s arrears.

Swansea struck again courtesy of Swailes’s back header but it was Bury who finished strongly and they merited their late winner. To complete a bad 90 minutes for the Swans, striker Steve Watkin was sent off for lashing out at Redmond.

“There are some players of mine who are living of past reputations” said Swansea boss Nick Cusack. “I am seriously thinking what contributions they can make to the team.”