THE VALUE of Jonathan Obika’s worth within the Swindon Town team has become even more evident during the striker’s absence in the last two games.

Obika has been forced to sit out last Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash at QPR and the abject 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield due to a groin problem.

Town were simply toothless in attack at the Proact Stadium on Saturday and they did not even warrant the late consolation netted by defender Darnell Furlong on debut.

Luke Williams’ side were not helped by the loss of new recruit Luke Norris inside the opening quarter of the game following a crunching challenge from Sam Hird and he now looks set to join Obika on the sidelines just two games into his Swindon career.

Youngster Jordan Young had started as the other attacking foil behind Norris against Chesterfield, with Jermaine Hylton swiftly brought off the substitutes bench to replace the injured man.

This gave more than just a lightweight feel to Swindon’s strikeforce and the Spireites’ bullish defence comfortably dealt with what limited threats came their way.

Hylton has not yet looked a player ready to fully step up from the non league days that Town plucked him from more than 18 months ago now - although perhaps a sustained run in the team that these injuries to others may yield could allow him to find the confidence he badly needs.

As stated by head coach Williams post match, Hylton is at his best when playing off a more physical partner up top, exactly the sort of presence that Obika would provide.

Although it was Nicky Ajose who grabbed the majority of headlines for Town last term courtesy of his 25-goal haul, that return was in no small part down to Obika.

The former Tottenham man is as good as anyone in the division at holding up the ball and relishes the task of grappling with opposition centre backs.

Should Obika be back to full fitness sooner rather than later, Hylton will hope it is he who is given the nod by Williams to benefit from Obika’s unselfish willingness to do the dirty work in the final third.