ALAN McLoughlin believes Swindon Town have players that are good enough to benefit the club both on and off the pitch in the future.

The Under 18s manager, who oversaw Swindon Town Reserves’ 8-2 win against Milton Keynes at the County Ground on Monday, revealed talent in the club’s youth setup is strong – adding the academy has been boosted by recent starts for youngsters Scott Twine and Joe Romanski.

Twine, who has been part of Swindon Town’s academy since the age of eight, made his first senior team start against Yeovil last month.

Meanwhile Town boss Phil Brown handed Joe Romanski his debut during the club’s 1-0 loss at home to Grimsby.

Both players performed well on debut, Twine in particular as he received a standing ovation when substituted three minutes before full-time during Town’s 2-2 draw against the Glovers.

Both players earning their first starts for the first team prompted McLoughlin to praise his academy staff.

He said: “Every player that plays in the academy has been affected by the academy staff.

“We hope it continues.

“I certainly know below our youth team we’ve got very good players that can benefit this football club in the long term but also move on at some stage and benefit the club in different ways.

“We’ll always bring players through, we can do that because of the resources we have.

“It’s a ‘we’, it’s not an ‘I’. I’ve been here three-and-a-half years now and it’s never ‘I’.”

Twine spent large parts of this season on loan at National League South side Chippenham Town before being re-called to the County Ground in March.

Meanwhile Romanski has performed well at reserve level and featured on the bench for David Flitcroft before making his Town debut under Brown.

McLoughlin was surprised, though, to see both players make such an impact on the first team.

“I knew this season would be one where Scott (Twine) would hopefully get an opportunity, but I didn’t expect him to play on a regular basis,” said McLoughlin.

“I still think Scott will come to the fore physically next year, but it’s great that he’s been introduced.

“Joe Romanski is still young player and still has a lot to learn.

“To dip him in at the correct time is the right thing to do.

“As well as being physically able, which I think Joe is, there’s also the tactical side of things which he still needs to learn.

“But you only get that through experience and throwing players in there, and that’s what the manager is prepared to do.

“It’s difficult for a defender because you can throw them on when you’re three or four nil up and get away with it.

“It’s brave to start one though, particularly a defender depending on where you are in the league.”