Tomorrow the U's come up against a player they almost signed and they probably wish they had.

Denis Smith went to watch Giovanni Savarese, the Venezuelan international, when he was on trial for QPR Reserves earlier this season and reported that he looked to have good ability.

But he didn't sign him, because of problems in funding the transfer, and also because he wasn't sure how the player would be on a cold winter's night in England.

However, after being signed by Swansea City, a complicated deal which involved money being paid to his agent, Savarese has survived several damp autumn days in south Wales.

Despite reporting feeling pretty cold at times, he's made a massive difference.

Although he doesn't look as though he's doing much during the games, he has a natural goalscorer's instinct.

He has grabbed five goals in six games, including two in a 2-1 victory over Stoke, two in the 2-2 draw with Bristol City ten days ago, and the late equaliser in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oldham.

Savarese insisted: "When I am not scoring, I have to do my best for the other players. I am a team man as well, but scoring goals is my job."

Last season, the Swans won promotion from Division 3 with the meanest defence in all four divisions, the Premiership included.

Manager John Hollins believed that, if only he could sign a goalscorer, he would have a team that would make a big impact in Division 2 as well.

But despite signing Savarese, it hasn't worked out like that. Swansea were appalling in losing 1-0 at home to Port Vale last month and Hollins gave his players a rollicking.

"You need to take a long, hard look at yourselves if you want to be professional footballers," he told them, and accused them of letting him down.

The response was a big improvement in a blood-and-thunder display against improving Bristol City, and a well-earned point at Boundary Park.

The Swans' captain is Nick Cusack, but few United fans who remember him as a centre forward at the Manor eight years ago, and later as a central defender on occasions with Fulham, would guess where he's now playing.

It's as the holding man in midfield, collecting the ball from the defence and passing it around, and still popping up with the occasional goal.

Cusack was never the most popular of players in his time at Oxford, but last season he was named in the PFA Division 3 Select side.