Leighton James' column

Leighton James Former Wales international and BBC pundit

Both Cardiff and Swansea have gambled and they've both struck gold - and goals!

Ross McCormack is in the same mould as Earnshaw, Chopra and Jerome

Dave Jones and Roberto Martinez have proved again this summer that you don't have to dig deep to get a quality goal-scorer.

Cardiff new boy Ross McCormack and Gorka Pintado at Swansea are fine examples of bargain buys that have reaped fantastic rewards so far this season.

Cardiff fans seemed a little upset when coach Jones failed to attract a big-name striker in the summer but City fans know only too well that big reputations don't always mean big impact.

While one-time Premier League superstar Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink did just okay last season, you'd have to say another great goal-scorer Robbie Fowler did not.

His year-long stay in South Wales was a big disappointment and somewhat of an anti climax.

But Cardiff have a history of nurturing and developing young, hungry goal-getters.

Rob Earnshaw, Michael Chopra and Cameron Jerome all earned their goal-scoring stripes at Ninian Park.

Cardiff's holy trinity of goal-scorers plundered chances at an alarming rate and proof of their achievements is an accumulative transfer profit for the Bluebirds topping £12m, cash which has secured the club's existence.

And, without wanting to put pressure on the young lad, McCormack is in the same mould.

The Scotland Under-21 international, a snip at £110,000 from Motherwell, has scored four goals in five already; he's hungry to learn; hungry to impress and hungry for goals.

Gorka Pintado has been an inspirational purchase by Martinez

Pintado is from Spain, not Scotland. But he, like McCormack, has made a remarkable first impression.

And the man they call 'El Toro', a £70,000 summer signing, could even take over from last season's club top-scorer as the number one striker at the Liberty.

But his addition means Swans boss Martinez has an embarrassment of striking riches because Jason Scotland will be a threat at this new higher level in the Championship.

Scotland and Pintado have proven to Swansea supporters that there is life after Lee Trundle, the man with the 'Magic Daps.'

Add Guillem Bauza to the equation, Martinez's men have potential fire-power to sneak Swansea into the play-off reckoning if their defence closes the door at the other end.

Scotland celebrated 32 goals last season and without his clinical finishing, the Swans wouldn't have been such runaway leaders of League One.

He cost less than Pintado so such a first season was incredible and once he returns to full fitness, a guy with his physical attributes and eye for a goal could cause mayhem for Championship defences.

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And with McCormack at Cardiff, there's a promising season ahead for South Wales club football as there are strikers on the prowl with something to prove.

Strikers are the be all and end all for clubs because they win clubs games, that's why they generally cost a small fortune.

A 20-goal-a-season striker can be the difference between a promotion push and relegation dogfight.

McCormack, Pintado and Scotland have shown managers don't need to spend big, to get a good return on an investment.

* Leighton James was speaking to BBC Sport Interactive's Peter Shuttleworth