SWINDON Town wing-back Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill reckons healthy competition in the wide positions can only be a good thing as his team look to build on a solid start to the season.

Youngster Ormonde-Ottewill joined Town last summer from Premier League giants Arsenal and made 30 appearances for the club in his debut season of senior football.

The 20-year-old started out as the regular face on Town’s left-hand side but has increasingly seen his place come under threat from James Brophy.

Brophy began the new campaign in the position due to a suspension for Ormonde-Ottewill hanging over from last season.

The former Gunner reclaimed the spot at Chesterfield on Saturday and Gillingham on Tuesday night but Brophy will now get his chance again following Ormonde-Ottewill’s red card at the Priestfield Stadium.

Bradley Barry was almost a permanent fixture on the opposite flank in 2015-16 but could now be challenged for his spot by Darnell Furlong, who arrived on a season-long loan from Championship side Queens Park Rangers last week.

Town head coach Luke Williams has plenty of options when it comes to selecting his wide men and Ormonde-Ottewill has no qualms about fighting for his place.

“Every side needs to have competition, otherwise there is nothing to play for,” Ormonde-Ottewill told BBC Wiltshire earlier this week.

“You end up being relaxed and you think that you have got your place, so I think it is always important that you have got competition and then when you do get your chance, you have to take it to stay in the side.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of competition and that inspires me to kick on.”

Town cannot boast that same luxury of a selection headache in every position as they are being hampered by a number of injuries at present.

Defender Raphael Branco has yet to play this season, while striker Jonathan Obika has been laid up since the opening day win over Coventry City as both men suffer with groin injuries.

On-loan Liverpool defender Lloyd Jones has missed the last two games after picking up an injury on debut in last week’s EFL Cup defeat at QPR, while new striker Luke Norris damaged his ankle in Saturday’s loss at Chesterfield and sat out the trip to the Gills on Tuesday.

Ormonde-Ottewill had high hopes for those two summer signings and is exasperated at seeing them endure tricky starts to their careers at the County Ground.

“Of course, it’s frustrating for us and it’s also frustrating for them,” said Ormonde-Ottewill.

“They have come in – strong players and players that would have been playing in my eyes – and obviously, they have gone out from injury now.

“But they get their recovery now and hopefully they will be back soon.”