Planet Swans ArchivesPainter and Purse were team-mates in Birmingham's reserves and the Swans defender reveals that he learned much from the man who is now an almost permanent feature at the heart of the Cardiff defence as well as the club captain.
Painter says that Purse helped him out in the early stages of his career but that won't affect his desire to get one over on the man in Tuesday night's clash at the Liberty Stadium.
Painter said "Pursey was one of the club's top players but when he wasn't in the first team he would play in the reserves.
"It was me and Pursey in central defence and I learned so much from him. He was brilliant to me – i was only 17 and Pursey was always willing to help me out. He gave me so much advice on how to improve as a player.
"Those reserve games were massive because it was the only wasy I could impress the gaffer Steve Bruce.
"Pursey is quite a vocal guy and he helped me through so many of them.
"He's a really nice guy and I got on well with him – but on Tuesday all that will be forgotten. I'll be looking to knock him out of the Carling Cup."
