LOAN midfielders Kellan Gordon and Timi Elsnik have lifted the lid on their stints with Swindon Town and admitted the adjustment from age-group football to the rigours of a League Two promotion push have proved an eye-opener.

The Derby U23 pair are on temporary deals at the County Ground until January, Gordon having scored three goals in his 17 Town appearances while Elsnik also notched three times in 12 games before suffering a hamstring injury in the win at Yeovil last month.

Whether the duo remain in Wiltshire until the end of the season will be decided next month, but both feel their careers have progressed while playing for David Flitcroft's side in the EFL's bottom tier.

“I’m enjoying the experience,” Elsnik told dcfc.co.uk.

“I’m playing a lot of games and that was the main thing I wanted from going out on loan.

"We were promised we would get a chance and we have had. I think me, and Kellan have both done well.

“League Two football is different to anything I have experienced before.

"Over the first few weeks I was just getting used to what the manager wanted from us and after that, it’s been fine.

“Once you start to see how things work and deal with that pressure from the fans and everyone wanting you to do well, it’s so rewarding.

“It’s all about the three points and it doesn’t matter how that is achieved because the ultimate goal is getting up into the next division.”

Gordon added: "There’s also far more pressure to win. There’s three points at stake every game we are right up there fighting for promotion.

“It’s far tougher physically too – every game is a battle and every game seems to really have something riding on it. I think I’m thriving off that pressure of fighting for something massive to the club.

“I’m not saying it’s not a challenge with the (Derby) U23s, it is, but heading out on loan you are playing men’s football week in, week out.

"Playing first team football is what we all aspire to be playing and I would be advising anyone my age to go out there and get the experience.

The nous of the much-travelled Matty Taylor appears to have made a particular impression on Elsnik, who said: "“Matty Taylor has been a Premier League player.

“He’s got a great free kick on him too, so I have been able to pick up a few tips off him on that.

“I would say he has got the most experience in the dressing room and when things are not going well, he will have a word and try and give us a boost. He’s a massive influence.”

Gordon added: “We’ve played a lot of games and started to score goals too now.

“That is what I wanted to add to my game and to score in the Football League is a brilliant feeling.

“Adapting to the physical side of the game has been a big learning curve and I think Timi would say the same on that front. It has helped that I have been able to share this experience with him and help each other through it.

“The whole squad has been great with us, though.

"Personally, it helped that I also knew Reice (Charles-Cook) and Keishi (Anderson), who joined at a similar time to ourselves.

"They are younger players, but are experienced for their age and having them around has helped me along.”