Swansea striker Lee Trundle says he will not leave the club just to fulfil his ambition of playing international football with the Republic of Ireland. Ireland boss Brian Kerr said Trundle must be playing at a higher level but he is happy to stay at the Vetch Field.
"I've signed a contract until 2007 and I want to focus on getting Swansea out of League Two," Trundle told BBC Sport.
"Playing for Ireland would be a great achievement for me but I want to do it while I'm playing for Swansea."
Kenny Jackett's Swans are flying high at the upper end of League Two and after last year's disappointment of finishing 10th, 28-year-old Trundle believes this is going to be their year.
"We're pleased with how it's going but we also know we should be up there, you just have to look at the quality of our bench to realise what a good squad we've got," Trundle added.
"For most of the lads last time around it was their first full season in professional football, so maybe we got a bit carried away after a great start.
"So we're probably more focused this year, we've definitely learned from our mistakes and we do not want to let it happen again.
"Everyone's got confidence in the dressing-room and that shows through in training and the lads who aren't in the side are sticking with us too, which is what you need to get promotion."
 |  The boss is so enthusiastic and wants to be involved in everything and that rubs off on the players |
Jackett is experiencing his first full season in charge at Swansea after taking over in April following the departure of Brian Flynn.
Trundle believes the former QPR assistant has adapted well to life in League Two and wasted no time in stamping his mark on the Swans.
"Kenny is doing a really good job, he's brought in players who have strengthened the side and already made a difference," he said.
"I'm impressed by the way he puts on his training sessions, he wants to have a hand in everything.
"I guess because it's his first job in management you can tell he's so enthusiastic and wants to be involved in everything and that rubs off on the players.
"He likes us to close teams down and mark tighter than maybe we did before but certainly not at the expense of hindering our attacking performance."
Trundle has operated both up front and in a deep-lying forward role for the Swans this season and he says he is happy to create goals rather than score them as long as the team is winning.
"I had scored a lot more this time last year but I've played in the hole on quite a few occasions, just behind a front two or one, so you can't really argue," said Trundle.
"I'd sacrifice my goals to see the team top of the league, but if you're helping other players score and still chipping in yourself then you're still doing your job.
"It comes down to doing what it takes to win a game. At Grimsby I played up front and didn't see any of the ball, but dropped back after half-time and I started causing them problems, so you have to be able to adapt."
A 3-1 win away at Cheltenham on Sunday put the Swans through to the second round of the FA Cup, where they travel to Stockport County.
After Swansea reached the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, Trundle believes another run would do no harm to the players' confidence as they chase promotion.
He added: "An FA Cup run can only be good for the side - if you're winning games it breeds confidence, simple as that.
"I don't agree with people who said we fell away last season because we concentrated on the FA Cup, that's just not true at all."
You can be sure Trundle would take Cup defeat at Edgeley Park like a shot should it mean the Swans are celebrating League One status come May.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
