Wantaway Bristol City striker Lee Trundle has almost certainly played his last game for the club.

Out-of-favour at Ashton Gate, the 33-year-old forward has spent the past four months on loan at Coca-Cola Championship rivals Swansea City.

Although that deal came to an end following the Swans' goalless draw with Crystal Palace on Monday, the Welsh club are expected to take up an option to keep Trundle until the end of the season.

And Swans manager Paulo Sousa today gave the strongest indication yet that the Scouser still features in his plans.

The former Portugal star said: "The situation with Lee is done, now it's a question of the two clubs. The chairman will announce something when he can, but I cannot tell you. I only talk when these things are done."

City and Swansea agreed a deal in August and the Ashton Gate club are waiting to hear Sousa's decision. But the fact Swans chairman Huw Jenkins has not yet been in touch suggests the player will remain at the Liberty Stadium.

And that arrangement will suit City boss Gary Johnson down to the ground. He needs to get players off the wage bill in order to fund new signings in January and he admitted: "It will be best for everyone concerned if Lee stays out on loan.

"There is an agreement already in place and now it's down to Swansea. If Lee was going to be coming back to us, I'm sure I would have heard something by now."

Trundle has made no secret of his desire to remain with Swansea, a club he served with distinction for four seasons before moving to Ashton Gate in a £1m transfer in the summer of 2007.

He may have started only a handful of games since returning to the Liberty Stadium, but he has netted five goals in that time and is currently Swansea's leading scorer.

Rather than return to Bristol and see out his contract, which expires at the end of the season, Trundle wants to earn a new deal with Swansea.

"Leaving now would be the worst thing that could happen to me," said Swansea's five-goal leading scorer.

"I made a choice to leave Swansea last time. It was a football decision and it was about playing at the highest level possible.

"But I realise now that once you leave a club, it's not always the same. Swansea is where I enjoy my football and where I enjoy my life.

"I feel comfortable in my life here and that helps you do well on the pitch, as does the relationship I have with the Swansea fans.

"It was my choice to go last time, but if the choice ever came up again I wouldn't leave because I realise now how much being in Swansea helps my game and helps me relax."

If retained, Trundle is expected to feature in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup third-round trip to Leicester City.