Kyle Bartley is hopeful that a quality performance keeping out Luis Suarez at Anfield on Sunday could earn him a starting space in the Capital One Cup Final against Bradford a week later.

Bartley has the chance to stake his claim for the place thanks to the unfortunate injury that will keep Chico Flores out of the Wembley showpiece and with just one game to go, Bartley knows that a solid 90 minutes could make that place his.

The Swans travel to Anfield on Sunday ahead of their opponents and looking to ensure they head to Wembley in 7th place in the Premier League and knowing that a win will take them to the 40 point barrier before the end of February.

But it is the Suarez challenge that Bartley is relishing “You can’t give him too much space,” Bartley told the Western Mail.

“All he needs is half a yard to get a shot off or to cause a bit of damage.

“He’s a nightmare for a defender and besides all that has happened with him, if you strip it down, he’s an amazing footballer.

“He’s a 100 per cent guy every game and has amazing ability.

“You would have to be on your game against him, but so will everyone because they are a good team.

“Suarez is not the only player we will have to keep an eye on. Look at the players around him like Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge, who are equally dangerous. It will be a difficult game.

“It’s good for team bonding,” Bartley said of the week-long trip to the Emirates.

“There are a lot of new lads that have come in and we can get to know each other more.

“It will be great to spend some time with each other, train and relax after a hectic couple of weeks.

“But it will also get us ready for the games ahead, starting with Liverpool which, like every game in the Premier League, is another massive match.

“We don’t feel safe yet, we need to keep going and progress.

“And it would be nice to take a bit of confidence from that going into the final.

“We expect a tough game, it always is at Anfield.

“We can take confidence from the previous win there and we’ve also been to Newcastle and Chelsea and got positive results.

“There isn’t anything to be afraid of.

“We will go there, play our own game and hopefully get a positive result.

“We’re not afraid of anyone in the league. Over the last five or six months the boys have been terrific and I don’t think the boys have played any game and been afraid.

“We will match Liverpool and it should be a good game.”

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