SWINDON Town midfielder Amine Linganzi says his happiness off the pitch has allowed him to become more successful on the pitch.

The 27-year-old former Portsmouth man has featured 17 times for David Flitcroft’s side so far this season, scoring two goals in the process.

During his season on the south coast the robust midfielder was hampered injury and lack of form, resulting in him only turning out 23 times for Pompey.

The summer signing revealed his faith has allowed him to express himself on the pitch after admitting he now feels happier outside of the football world.

“I’m a footballer, but before that I am a footballer I am a human being and I needed to change my own life first,” he said. “This is why now I am a Christian, I think God is really important in my life and my faith, because I have faith now, I can release outside of football.

“Because I am a lot happier now, I’m not struggling with injuries now and I am enjoying myself on the pitch.” Within Swindon’s midfield, the former Congo international faces stiff competition for places, with vice-captain James Dunne, John Goddard and Derby County loanee Timi Elsnik all vying for a spot in the middle of the park.

Despite the tough competition, Linganzi says he is a happy man as long as Swindon are winning and praised manager Flitcroft for finding a winning formula.

“When Timi and Dunney have played, they have played well and we have won games, which is the most important thing,” he said. “But afterwards I am just a normal player, I try to enjoy myself because I couldn’t before, this is a long season and it hasn’t finished yet.

“I’m not a pessimist but okay, we have won, let’s see where we are at the end of the season, we just need to stay focussed on winning now.

“As a team the most important thing is to find our identity, we have found that, we need to go forward and work hard pressing teams and we will get some results.

“I think Swindon for a few years, they have been a team who played good football, short and sharp, but today it doesn’t matter how we play.

“The way Swindon played a few years ago wasn’t that good for the level and today we are more direct and we can get more results.”