CRAIG Easton admits the Town players will be “back on trial” over the next fortnight as new manager Danny Wilson looks to run the rule over his Swindon squad.

Easton featured in Wilson’s first starting 11 - in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Brighton at the County Ground - as the combative midfielder looks to hold down a regular place in a side.

Starting wide on the right, Easton finished the game alongside Lee Peacock in the middle of the park and is hoping to keep hold of his shirt when Stockport County visit Wiltshire on January 10.

“You want to be in the team but there’s lots of competition, so everybody is going to be working hard on the training ground,” Easton said.

“It always happens when a new manager comes in, everybody seems to up their game.

“It happens especially after a defeat, so it’s going to be a good two weeks.

“You always want to do your best, but I think you will see the boys up the tempo by a few percent - that’s just natural.”

If Sunday’s encounter is anything to go by, there will be several Town players sweating over their places in the side heading into 2009.

For Easton however, the prospect of some increased competition in the January transfer window is a welcome one.

And working under a former international - Wilson earned 24 caps for Northern Ireland - Easton insists his own game can only improve.

“He’s going to want hard work from us, and he’s going to want to play nice football if we can,” Easton said.

“It’s good that he was a midfielder too.

“As a player you are always learning, so now there’s somebody new to help improve my game.

“I look forward to working under him.”