WILDCATS head coach Ryan Aldridge has revealed that Tomas Fojtik’s temporary spell at Swindon could last beyond Christmas.

Fojtik started off the season at Slough but was released at the end of October, before being snapped up by Aldridge ahead of last weekend’s games against Manchester and Sheffield.

The Czech defenceman was brought in to help cover the raft of injuries and absences that have descended upon the Link Centre side of late.

And now Aldridge admits that Fojtik’s spell with Swindon could continue, with the absence crisis and the 29-year-old’s displays on the ice likely to be key in any extension.

“We aren’t sure (if Fojtik will stay), we will probably evaluate it after the weekend and through the Christmas break,” said Aldridge.

“There’s all sorts of factors to consider.”

Wildcats take on visitors Basingstoke in their final EPL-Cup fixture tomorrow and Henri Sandvik will again miss out due to concussion, with captain Shane Moore a doubt due to the same problem.

Ollie Betteridge, Floyd Taylor and Sam Godfrey are playing for Great Britain Under-20s at the World Under-20 Championships (Division 1B) in Dumfries, while Sam Bullas is away with the Great Britain university team at the Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy, featuring in the line-up that lost 8-0 to Russia in their Group B opener yesterday.

Swindon’s absence problems are such that Aldridge will be pulling on his skates against Basingstoke and the head coach admits his team face a big task against the EPL’s third-placed side.

“I think they are the most in-form team at the moment and everyone you speak to says how hard they work and how their three lines come at you for 60 minutes,” said Aldridge.

“When you’re shorthanded like we are, sometimes teams come together, which is what we did last Sunday against Sheffield, and hopefully we can take that into this weekend.”

Betteridge, Taylor and Godfrey have experienced a rollercoaster few days with GB Under-20s in Scotland this week.

GB lost 4-3 to Italy after overtime on Monday before being sunk 6-1 by Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Betteridge scored for Pete Russell’s youngsters as they triumphed 5-4 against France following a dramatic shootout last night.