Swindon Town Boss Dave Flitcroft sat down with the local press on Thursday to preview our Sky Bet League Two fixture away at Coventry City on Saturday (3pm KO).
- Boss covers a whole range of topics.
- Gaffer provides a fitness update.
- He also discusses what to expect from The Sky Blues.
- Flitcroft talks about the addition of Marc Richards and other transfer related news.
Here are the main talking points from what he had to say...
ON INJURIES:
"Chris Hussey is making great progress after his operation.
"We finally got to the bottom of it which is good for all parties and especially for us.
"Hopefully we will have Chris for potentially the last eighteen games of the season, so there is still loads of football to be played for Chris.
"It was a real successful operation that found the problem.
"We're not going to put a timeline on it but it is a real positive situation that we've found ourselves in with Chris.
"Amine Linganzi will be medium term.
"We've got to get him right.
"I'm going to watch Timi Elsnik on Monday - he's playing for Derby's U23's up at St Georges Park and they've collated his training data, but they just want to see him in a game now.
"We've got a Central League game on Tuesday but that could be on 4G and I'm not going to risk any of our first-team players on that.
"We're working very closely with Derby on Timi so if he can get sixty or seventy minutes on Monday then we'll get him back, which is fantastic news for us."
ON SIGNING KESHI ANDERSON ON A PERMANENT:
"It is difficult sometimes because you can have a loan signing, you put a lot of work into them, you put twenty-odd games into them as a football club and then you can lose them.
"Now Keshi is a permanent we can really drive home what we want to do with him, we can develop him at the football club whilst we're winning football matches and that's really important.
"He's committed to everything we've asked of him and we're delighted to get that one over the line.
"The Chairman worked very hard with Crystal Palace on getting the deal over the line and I'm delighted for Keshi because he knows he's in a fixed home.
"The really important thing is, because Keshi had options, was that he wanted to sign for Swindon Town and that was the most pleasing aspect."
ON BRINGING MARC RICHARDS TO SN1:
"It was a real common sense signing.
"We've missed Luke Norris at times this season and when I've missed him or not had Luke or I've had to bring him off, we're a little big lightweight upfront and I've felt that as the season has progressed.
"We've been allowed to bring in a striker of Marc's pedigree and of Marc's quality and he's a striker that loves scoring goals.
"His hold-up play and his work in the middle of the pitch is going to be important as well, how he presents, how he's available for the ball and that is one thing that attracted us to the signing.
"I'm delighted to get it over the line.
"I've chased Marc quite a lot and he's said no a few times on me, so this time we got our man and I'm delighted.
"It has given us another leader in the building who doesn't mind telling people how it is and he'll drive the standard.
"It is important you have that leadership and he's come in straightaway and been that player.
"I did my homework on him and I knew he would come in to drive standards, I knew he would come in to demand that the other players meet his high standards and it is brilliant to have him on the training ground.
"I'm delighted to have his presence on the training ground."
ON CYRILLE REGIS:
"As a player he totally changed our season at Chester from when he came in and he occupied two centre-halves at times - there was an awe about him.
"I was his room-mate and I did anything he asked!
"He was absolutely unique with the charisma and he was an absolute true professional and a true gentleman.
"It was a real sad day when we lost Cyrille."
ON COVENTRY CITY:
"The league is churning out results everywhere - Chesterfield beat Luton - there's no givens in this league and you get tested differently almost every game.
"It is how players turn up on the day and stick to the task at hand.
"We're on a real good run and there's a feel-good factor on the training ground.
"There's a belief and there's been a lift after adding Ollie Banks, adding Marc Richards and adding Keshi Anderson on a permanent.
"There's been a tempo to training and an improvement to training and the rest of players are certainly enjoying the fact that we are bringing in competition."
ON INCOMINGS AND OUTGOINGS:
"In football a lot can happen and you look at the Dion Conroy injury, from nothing suddenly we needed a centre-half so it is pointless sat here whilst the window is still here to say we're not looking.
"We're monitoring two or three players and if they happen they happen.
"When it comes towards the end of the window it can become a lottery and it can become a panic and what you've got to be able to bring into a football club is the right character and the right personality.
"We've done that.
"We're taking phone calls on certain players in terms of outgoings and if it is the right deal for the player, the right deal for the football club then we'll look to do that.
"We're probably a couple of players over in terms of numbers and bodies so there is potential for players to go out.
"We'll make sure we've got the numbers spot on over the next week."
