WEIGHING up potential January recruits already is the sensible option for Swindon Town despite there still being a month to go until the window opens, according to assistant manager Ben Futcher.

Town are beset by injuries at present, with Dion Conroy, Chris Hussey, Timi Elsnik, Amine Linganzi, Luke Norris and Donal McDermott all currently unavailable for selection.

At least half of those are expected to be back fit in the coming weeks but that has not stopped Swindon boss David Flitcroft eyeing up what might be available elsewhere.

Flitcroft has signed 17 new players since taking over at the Energy Check County Ground over the summer and more could arrive come the new year.

Futcher says an ever-evolving view on the transfer market is part and parcel of the game and the Town management team will never stop trying to make marginal gains within the squad.

“We are always looking. You have always got to be proactive about how you can improve the squad, little tweaks and little changes. That’s how any squad keeps moving forward and any club keeps moving forward,” said Futcher.

“It is something we have looked at ever since we got to the club. How can we make the squad better? Are there any changes? Is there someone else available that is maybe better than what you have got?

“That is the same with every club, they are always looking for that improvement and where you can do it.

“That doesn’t change, that has been right through from when the window closed up until where we are now.

“We are still looking, that’s not to say we are unhappy with what we have got, but we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we weren’t looking.”

For now, the immediate attentions of Flitcroft and Futcher are on finding safe passage for Town through to the second round of the FA Cup during Saturday’s trip to Stevenage.

Swindon have already faced Darren Sarll’s side once this term, beating them far more convincingly than the 3-2 scoreline suggested back in September.

Town suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Newport County in League Two last time out and Flitcroft is keen to see a reaction at the Lamex Stadium.

“We were disappointed with the performance and disappointed with the result last weekend but we move on and try to put it right,” said Futcher.

“We have worked really hard on the training ground this week to put right what we felt wasn’t quite good enough and move onto the next game.

“It’s a really tough game but you don’t expect anything else in the FA Cup. We are going away from home, like we did in the first round, and we will prepare right, like we did when we went to Dartford, and hopefully we will get through to the next round.

“I thought we played really well when we beat Stevenage at home but they will know all about that as well, so they will be looking for revenge. It is going to be a difficult game, a really difficult game.

“They have done well at home this season so we are going to prepare well, like we do for every away game, and hopefully get this club through to the next round.”