Swindon Town Assistant Manager Ben Futcher sat down with the local press on Thursday to preview our trip to Chesterfield on Saturday.
- Futch gives an update on injuries
- Kellan Gordon's return is discussed
- Futcher reveals what he expects from Chesterfield
Here are the key points from what he had to say...
ON INJURIES:
"Amine Linganzi has had a bit of a setback so he's got to go back and see the specialist.
"We are a bit worried about that and it is not ideal but the medical department are dealing with it and are doing the best they can.
"It is disappointing he's not back at the minute but they are doing the best they can with it and there's no real timeframe on it.
"Olly Lancashire has had a couple of days rest and he's trained today (Thursday) so he'll be available for Saturday."
ON KELLAN GORDON'S RETURN FROM SUSPENSION:
"He's back in the squad.
"He's not missed too much, he's fresh and he's raring to go."
ON HAVING A FREE WEEK:
"It has been really good for the lads.
"After Port Vale they were physically and mentally shattered and it has been a really tough three or four weeks for them, so they've had a couple of days down time and we were straight back in at the end of the week preparing for Chesterfield."
ON JOE ROMANSKI:
"For the first time in a while the youth team have been training at the same venue as the first-team, which me and the Gaffer have always seen as important.
"We've been trying to drop players in with us to see where they are at, to see if they are ready and Joe has done quite well in training.
"It has been a big jump for him but needs must and it has been a good expereince for him being on the bench.
"He's probably not ready for the first-team at the moment and it is difficult for a central defender sometimes to come straight from the U18's into the first-team, but he's had a good attitude and it has been a good experience for him.
"It can only benefit him in the long-run."
ON CHESTERFIELD:
"They are a big threat.
"They came down with Swindon last season, they've found it really difficult to adapt, as have Port Vale, and I think it just shows how well we've done at Swindon to get to where we are now.
"I'm sure Chesterfield was in a strong position when they came down, their manager had been in place for six months or so but they find themselves in the bottom two.
"It shows what a tough division it is, how difficult it is to regroup when you do get relegated and we told the lads that it shows what a positive job they've done to lift that cloud from Swindon and get us towards the top end of the table.
"Chesterfield have got some good players in this division, they've got a big squad, they signed eleven players in January and they will be expected to get out of it.
"It will be a really tough game for us.
"We're looking forward to it, it is another game we're looking to win and we will set-up to get three points.
"We're under no illusions that it is going to be a really tough game but we'll be going there knowing what their threats are, but also what their weaknesses are and how we can exploit them."
ON IMPROVED HOME FORM:
"It has been fantastic.
"Everyone was disappointed with the home form at the start of the season but we have turned it around and five wins on the spin is fantastic.
"It is nice to give the home fans something to cheer about like the away fans have all season, and it can only stand us in good stead going into these last twelve games of the season.
"We're looking forward to the run-in and we're in fantastic shape to really go and kick-on.
"It is positive, there is a really good vibe about the squad, the atmosphere about the place is fantastic and the players can't wait until the next game."
ON MARC RICHARDS:
"Marc Richards is a fantastic professional.
"I've known him a long time, the Manager has too and he's tried to sign him a couple of times, so we knew what we were getting.
"It is no luck when he looks after himself as well as he does.
"He trains everyday, trains to his maximum every day, he sets ridiculously high standards and he lives up to them on the pitch.
We've got a very young front-line so to bring someone in with that experience was key and they are all going to learn off him, whether that is Paul Mullin, Luke Norris, Kaiyne Woolery or Scott Twine.
"Working with Marc Richards will only aid their development in the long-term and he's a fantastic character in the dressing room too.
"He's been a really good signing for the football club and we're delighted to have him here."