Martinez Hails Gorka 'The Bull' Pintado

Swansea City boss Roberto Martinez says striker Gorka Pintado is like a big animal that's been let out of his cage.

The £100,000 Summer signing from Grenada CF has played through the pain barrier since his move to South Wales and last month, he finally had a hernia operation to cure his on-going problems.

He made his first appearance in nearly a month last night, coming on as a 60th minute substitute to score our vital equaliser.

Martinez was delighted to see 'The Bull', as he is nicknamed, back in action, he told the Evening Post:

'When you are playing with pain and you cannot feel yourself it's very frustrating,'

'Now that pain has gone, Gorka is like a big animal being let out from his cage. You could see his determination. He worked very hard, he was patient and, when he got one chance, he put it away.

It's a fantastic boost for us to have him back. He is like a new player for us along with Joe Allen and Darren Pratley.'

Pintado certainly lived up to the song us fans sing to him, 'Feed The Bull and he will score'. He put his first chance away, firing the ball in off the crossbar thanks to Scotland's assist.

It was his 23rd substitute appearance last night, and despite only starting 7 League games and playing with a hernia problem, he has scored 5 League goals this season.

Selection headaches haven't been a problem for Roberto Martinez lately, but with Pintado, Pratley and Allen back again, the Spaniard will be delighted to have them back.

Joe Allen returned from a thigh strain to put in a man of the match performance at Derby, and he should definitely keep his place in the side for Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest.

A few other starting places could be up for grabs though. Gower was left out of the 16-man squad and Orlandi gave us a boost when he came on yesterday, so Dyer and Butler will need to step up their game if they want to keep their places.

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