Tom Penford has been tipped to make his mark with City - three years after bursting on to the scene.

The 20-year-old midfielder helped transform Saturday's clash with high-flying Swansea, coming off the bench to lay on the cross for the equaliser and showing some dazzling touches.

It marked a dramatic change of

fortunes for Penford, who was told at the start of the season that he had no future with the club.

And City skipper David Wetherall now believes the Leeds-born youngster can finally live up to the potential that was evident when he made his debut in 2003.

Wetherall said: "Tom has had some tough times since then and disappeared off the scene for one reason or another. But the ability he has got never goes away.

"He's got very good feet and can pick a pass and make things happen. You get him on the ball in the right area and for 20 minutes we saw the ability he's got.

"Obviously there are things he has to work on and his natural frame is spindly. But he will fill out as time goes on and he works in the gym.

"Some of the stuff he did on Saturday was fantastic and hopefully now he'll really believe in himself. There's no reason he can't be a really good performer in this division."

Penford was given his chance after Colin Todd lost patience with wingers Bobby Petta and Ben Muirhead and changed City's system. He switched to three men at the back with Dean Windass, who had been playing in midfield, pushed just behind the front two.

Windass responded with a brave header to score his first goal in open play since September and City were only denied a winner when Willy Gueret twice denied Steve Claridge in stoppage time.

Wetherall added: "The change of shape and change of personnel just seemed to work. When you've got the three we had in central midfield who are all comfortable on the ball then we can create chances.

"We've stuck with 4-4-2 for a long time and been pretty rigid about it. But it will be interesting to see what happens next game now and whether the

manager will go with

the team and shape that finished against Swansea.

"It was a great ball from Tom for the goal and I'm delighted for Deano because he's been struggling to score in open play. But it's the same with the team as a whole so from both aspects it's good news.

"The way it was going for 70 minutes, it was a good point. But for the last 20 or so we had them penned in their half and created chances, although I don't think we can pretend we deserved to win the game."