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Typography
Five years ago, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Jason Scotland gave tangible evidence of his footballing gifts.


Defence Force were hosting Mexican champions, Pachuca, in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The Mexicans, as usual, were expected to have a comfortable victory against a Regiment team that appeared to have passed their sell-by date.

Scotland had something to say about that, though.

The San Juan resident scored the game's only goal with a spectacular strike on the turn. His performance throughout-a mixture of strength, skill and clever short passing-was equally eye catching.

Pachuca triumphed 4-0 in the return leg and went on to win the entire competition. But Scotland's outing made such an impression on the respected North American nation it seemed likely that the former Malick schoolboy would become the first Trinidad and Tobago player to ply his trade in Mexico since former star player and coach Everald "Gally" Cummings.

At the time, the 23-year-old "Scotty" had only three national caps with one goal (against Grenada) but could barely get into the national set-up, even when entirely local teams were selected.

The skill was always there but, as former national coaches like Ian Porterfield and Rene Simoes explained, not always the attitude.

Scotland has all the qualities necessary for stardom. He boasts a powerful shot with either foot, a good turn of pace, deft dribbling skills, good upper-body strength, a decent passing range and an infectious joy in carrying out his duties.

But he does sometimes look short on ruthless ambition or the lust for personal glory that made Stern John into Trinidad and Tobago's most prolific scorer of all time.

Fast forward to Swansea City in 2007 where Scotland joined a Wales-based England League One club who dare to dream above their station.

"Our aim is the Premiership and we want to do it as quickly as possible," said Swansea manager Roberto Martinez. "But first we have to reach the Championship."

Scotland, according to the Spanish manager, is crucial to his immediate promotion plans.

"He is a striker with all-round ability which will enable him to play in a number of roles that gives us different options," Martinez told the BBC website at the start of the season. "Jason has a magic touch and can make something happen out of nothing. He's an exciting player who always entertains and attracts the crowds-and players like that are a rare breed." Swansea played in seven matches so far this term. Scotland scored in five of them despite being played off the bench in three Cup fixtures as Martinez tries to save his legs for their promotion campaign.

Only England Premier League club Reading and League One's Nottingham Forest, former European champions, have kept Scotland scoreless and he struck the bar against Forest while he was a second half substitute to Reading.

"It is really good to make such an early impact and be getting those goals," said Scotland. "But we have lost too many of those games that I scored and it is horrible to know that your goals are not counting for anything.

"Our team plays good football and I know we will get better as our understanding (of each other) improves."

Scotland will improve too. He insisted that he is yet to hit his best form for Swansea while he still has not grasped his teammates' Welsh accents. His love for the Welsh city was evident.

There is comfort too in sharing the Swansea dressing room with his former Defence Force and international colleague, Dennis Lawrence.

"It is good to sit down and communicate with someone who has similar ideas," said Scotland, about his relationship with the lanky defender. "Also, it is a little different with him playing in defence and me up front whereas me and Sammy (his Dundee United colleague and compatriot Collin Samuel) were fighting for the same spot."

Some players need in-house competition to excel. Scotland is arguably at his best when he enjoys his boss' unstinted support.

His ten goals in two seasons for Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League pale in comparison to a remarkable 42 in two terms with St Johnstone in Scotland League One.

But did he really struggle in the SPL? Scotland is treated like royalty by the United faithful on his returns to the club's Tannadice headquarters and a close examination of his record suggested that he was not out of his depth there.Â

Three goals came against the formidable Glasgow Rangers while he matched those returns in battle with the respected Hibernian. His FA Cup semi-final winner against "Hibs" is now club folklore and put United in the 2005/06 European competition while he was nicknamed "Spanner" for one of his many tricks on the ball.

The talent has always been there. But Scotty sometimes needs an arm around the shoulder to tap into his offensive resources.

At 28, he is nearing the peak of his powers. Swansea must use it wisely.

Trinidad and Tobago could benefit from his progress.