JAY McEveley knows regaining his place in the Swindon Town defence is not going to be easy, after watching Alan McCormack fill in so ably in his absence over the course of the past two months.

McEveley is almost ready for a recall to the Robins’ first team following a successful recovery from knee surgery, having gone under the knife at the beginning of last month, but Swindon have not lost during his time on the sidelines and currently lie fifth in League One.

The full-back has been impressed how well Town skipper McCormack has dealt with being asked to adapt to a left-sided role, and therefore anticipates a struggle to win back his spot in the starting line-up.

“The lads have done brilliant and Macca has done it all season,” he said. “He’s played in various positions, he’s a very versatile player and he’s played very well. One thing I don’t expect to do is walk straight back into the side.

“The way they’re playing at the minute and the results that they’re getting it’s very difficult for anyone to break into that side.

“I’ve just got to get myself fit and right in training and prove I deserve my place.

“From pre-season the gaffer knew what he wanted to get out of the group and it took a few months to get there but you can see it all coming together.

“It happened last year when the lads went on a great run around Christmas and carried it on into the second half of the season and hopefully we can do that again.

“We seem to be winning at the minute and just staying fit but hopefully we can creep up on the lads in front of us.

“Winning breeds confidence and we feel sort of invincible. We feel like we’re not going to lose this game and it’s a nice feeling to have.”