PHIL Brown faces a ‘selection headache’ ahead of Swindon Town’s League Two clash against Carlisle United at the Energy Check County Ground on Saturday.

Despite missing top scorer Luke Norris, Brown could welcome defenders Olly Lancashire and Ryan McGivern back to his starting 11.

It means five players - including Rollin Menayese, Chris Robertson and Ben Purkiss – are likely to compete for the two central positions in the back four.

But it’s one of Brown’s better problems as he appeared in good spirits ahead of another crunch clash amid Town’s bid to gain a grip on one of the four play-off spots.

He said: “Ryan has been through vigorous training sessions in the past few days and come out of them unscathed.

“He’s in it for the short-term, but the long-term is what he’s playing for.

“It’s strange when a new manager comes in, treatment rooms tend to stay empty – which is good news for me.

“It causes me a bit of a headache for Saturday coming into another tough game, but one of the start of two quick games at the County Ground.”

Positive reports were voiced from the other side of the pitch as Brown explained influential striker Marc Richards has responded well to treatment on a minor ankle injury.

Richards, who bagged the equalising goal against Crawley Town on Easter Monday, has scored 10 times since signing in January.

And Brown hopes the 35-year-old can add to that tally against an experienced Carlisle back four.

He said: “Rico (Marc Richards) is a fantastic pro. Whatever he’s carrying in terms of pain, he is still desperate to play.

“I wasn’t going to include him on the bench on Monday. Thank God I did.

“He turned the game into an advantage for us.

“Rico’s desperation to impress and play – I wish half the young lads in the game had that same desperation to play.

“It’s not because he’s coming to the end of his career, it’s because that’s who he is.

“That desperation will probably be from the start on Saturday.

“We haven’t wrapped him up in cotton wool because he refuses to be. He’s trained professionally this week. Fortunately the sun is shining so we trained on grass.”

Aside from several of his men returning to full fitness, Brown has been encouraged by his side’s presence of mind.

Town have fought back from a goal down to secure two league points in as many games within the last week.

And Brown is now looking for his men to show that extra initiative to secure what could be a vital three points against United.

He said: “I’m not surprised by the team I’ve inherited.

“Anybody on any courses you go to will talk about your DNA, philosophies and style of play.

“A lot of these things are important, but when push comes to shove, it’s about mentality and strength of character.

“When your backs are to the wall, and we were when they (Crawley) had the chance of getting that second goal, that’s something I’m talking about.

“The chairman watched the Morecambe game from afar and he said, like most people said, when the penalty went in he expected us to push on and win the game.

“We should’ve won. But we didn’t have that presence of mind at the time.

“But we did have that presence of mind on Monday. So there are things I like when reading between the lines.

“Being resolute and clinical at both ends of the pitch are things that get you promoted.

“These are the things we talk about in the corridors of power.”