WILL Henry’s loan spell at Southern League side Dunstable Town will stand the young goalkeeper in good stead, according to Swindon Town manager David Flitcroft.

Yesterday, Henry was called up to the England U20s squad for the first time for their fixtures against Italy and the Czech Republic next month.

The 19-year-old has previously featured in England squads at U19 level but this marks his maiden selection by boss Keith Downing for the U20 age group.

Henry has played just once for Town this season during the 3-2 Checkatrade Trophy defeat at home to West Ham United U21s in August before being sent out on loan to Dunstable in early September on a one-month deal.

Life in non-league circles proved a baptism of fire for Henry as Dunstable slipped to a heavy 8-1 defeat at Slough Town during his debut.

His morale took a hit in the wake of that match but Flitcroft has been impressed with Henry’s response since and believes time away from the club and getting regular game time in a tough environment will only be beneficial.

“After Will’s first game, he’d conceded quite a few goals and we had to pick him up off the floor,” said Flitcroft.

“He was so down on the experience. He had a day of training with the team and in his first game, they got beat 8-1.

“He questioned it and we had a good chat for about an hour and I told him that football replicates life, you are not always going to get what you want.

“I said: ‘We have sent you there for a reason, to add that character to your development and to add that experience’. Sometimes your worst experiences prove your best.

“Steadily, he has improved and once he got his head round it, it’s been a really good loan opportunity.

“I said: ‘Whatever you do, you respect the environment you go to, you respect that level and he has’. He is a hard-working kid.

“You’re in a circle of development and when I look at any young player, their mum and dad are probably in there, an agent that is telling them everything they want to hear and it’s a comfy bubble.

“Once you get outside that and start having it tough, you have got to start thinking for yourself and find a way of making good what you are doing.”

Meanwhile, Town are still yet to gain a full diagnosis of the groin injury suffered by on-loan full-back Chris Hussey at Forest Green last Friday.

The medical staff at Swindon are working in conjunction with Hussey’s parent club, Sheffield United, but his participation in Saturday’s match against Cambridge United at the County Ground is a major doubt.

Centre back Dion Conroy is Flitcroft’s only other injury problem, with the Town boss also revealing the club have appealed the red card shown to midfielder James Dunne in Tuesday’s home defeat against Coventry City.

“We have appealed the decision for violent conduct which the referee didn’t give, the assistant from a different angle gave,” said Flitcroft.

“My staff and the analyst staff have put a case together and we have appealed. We don’t feel it was violent conduct and we have put a case together to say that.”