McLeod added balance to Swansea down the left

The Scouser, 25, was transfer listed last month after breaking a club curfew and nearly moved to Southend before the transfer window closed.

But he was recalled to the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw at Oldham to revitalise a faltering promotion drive.

"It wasn't a hard decision, he's on our pay-roll and he's desperate to go again at Swansea," Jackett told BBC Sport.

"He did well and that was no surprise to me, he's got his head down and trained well for the last couple of weeks.

The needs of the club come first until the end of the season, we'll talk about Kevin's future later Kenny Jackett

"I made six changes to the team and they were necessary. We were poor at Rotherham last week, there was no energy in training and we had to freshen things up.

"Kevin gave us more balance. Andy Robinson has not been as effective since I pushed him out wide and I wanted to get him more involved in the midfield.

"My options for a natural left-footer on the flank were either Tom Williams or Kevin, and when Garry Monk was injured in the week I needed Tom in defence.

"The needs of the club come first until the end of the season, we'll talk about Kevin's future later."

McLeod is under contract at the Liberty Stadium until June 2008.

It was probably the best goal I've ever scored in my career and one of the most important Kris O'Leary

The draw at Boundary Park moved Swansea back into the play-off positions and left their destiny in their own hands.

"We had to show character this week, the whole place had been depressed," Swansea's goal-scoring hero Kris O'Leary told BBC Sport Wales.

"When we went one down we could have collapsed, so it was good to see us react positively and at the end we could even have nicked a win.

"It was probably the best goal I've ever scored in my career and one of the most important.

"It was one of those ones you can just feel as soon as you hit it - I was already away celebrating before it made the back of the net."