RYAN Aldridge admits Swindon’s imports are fighting for their roles in the Wildcats team as he readies himself to make big decisions about their respective futures.

Matias Perkkio’s return to fitness on Sunday meant the Link Centre head coach had five imports at his disposal for the clash against visiting Milton Keynes, which Swindon lost 5-2.

Aldridge took the decision to select forwards Jonas Hoog, Michal Kapicka and Perkkio alongside D-man Jan Melichar, leaving recent signing Tomas Fojtik on the sidelines, as EPL teams are only permitted to include four imports in their matchnight squads.

Possessing five foreign players can be an expensive commodity and when asked if the situation was sustainable over the course of the season, Aldridge said: “No, absolutely not.

“We’ll be running with four and guys are playing for their jobs, to be honest with you. That’s why I played the line-up I did (on Sunday), to see who was going to play.

“Guys know there’s five imports and we’re not going there, we won’t be playing with five imports all season.

“I’m thinking short-term but I’m also thinking long-term. Decisions will be made soon and they will be decisions that will be for the long-term benefit of the team.”

Aldridge remained tight-lipped on who was likely to be let go, but he did explain why he decided to leave Fojtik out of the team for Sunday’s loss to the Lightning.

“We were two British forwards short (in Nicky Watt and Jamie Hayes), so for us to go with six D and short on the forward end just didn’t make sense,” he said. “Looking at it now having made three defensive errors, maybe having two defensive imports in the line-up would have benefited us.”

Wildcats are due to play a rare midweek game tonight, as they make the trip to Sheffield (7.30pm).