NATHAN Thompson reckons that Swindon Town have assembled a group of players that can flourish in League One this season.

The Swindon skipper admits that he had his concerns over the paucity of personnel at the County Ground in the early stages of the summer but with Town making six additions in August, Thompson believes he is now part of a squad showing the same levels of camaraderie as the one that reached the play-off final in 2014-15.

Speaking before Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Oxford United, the Swindon defender sees no reason why he and his team-mates can’t be successful this term.

“I think we’ve got a good blend,” Thompson told BBC Wiltshire.

“Me more so than anyone, I think, was slightly concerned at the start of the season.

“We didn’t sign players until late and it’s always difficult for them. You don’t know if they’re going to gel straightaway but I think the chairman and the manager have gone about bringing in the right players with the right personalities and everyone’s seemed to click.

“It’s a real nice tight bond in there and it’s reminiscent of the year we got to the play-off final.

“I felt that last year gave us boys the opportunity to gain experience and this year would be our year, and I think we’ve started in the right way.

“I look at the league this year and you see everyone’s beating everyone, so it’s a real open division.

“If we’re able to be consistent and we don’t put in performances like we did at Chesterfield (a 3-1 defeat last month), then there’s no reason why we can’t be up there.

“To see Raffa (Branco) and Jon (Obika) – who would be big players for any team in the league – coming back, it gives us that depth that we require.

“If you look at this month alone, there are seven or eight games, so everyone’s going to be used.”

“To have those boys back and Yaser (Kasim) returning, it’s important for us.”

Jamie Sendles-White, Lloyd Jones, Darnell Furlong and even midfielder Conor Thomas have all played alongside Thompson at the back so far this season and the County Ground captain thinks there is plenty of scope for optimism as far as far as Swindon’s defence are concerned.

He said: “We’re so well-drilled in terms of training and we’re going over shape daily. It allows those that are stepping in to the role to know exactly what they’re doing.

“Darnell has come in and been fantastic and Jamie Sendles-White was brilliant as well at the start of the season.

“Looking across the back, we look cohesive this season. There’s not as many gaps and I think it’s the platform we needed.”