A DEFIANT Andy Caton has vowed to return to professional football in "no time at all" after revealing how Paul Sturrock's Town era saw his belief die for the first time.

The striker was one of Town's hottest-ever prospects when he broke onto the first team scene at 16 but, after an injury-ravaged four years, is now facing the prospect of the non-League wilderness.

But after a successful trial match with bitter rivals Oxford United late last week Caton insists the dream is still alive, despite constant put-downs over the past months leaving him considering quitting the game for good.

As a series of injuries saw him make just 13 appearances since his 2004 debut, Town finally released him last month, but he is refusing to abandon the hope of following in his father's footsteps and making a name for himself in the beautiful game'.

Tommy Caton enjoyed an illustrious career with the likes of Arsenal, Charlton and Manchester City and son Andy still believes there is a way back for him.

He said: "I played a trial match for Oxford United last Wednesday and things went really well. Oxford called me when they saw I had been released by Town and said come and have a game.

"I definitely want to get back into football.

"I was doing well in that game until I got taken off injured with a muscle spasm, but that was to be expected after so long out of the game.

"It should only be another week and I will be back. They said give them a ring when I am fit and they will have another look."

Caton became the second youngest ever Town scorer when he netted on his debut in 2004 in a season opener at Wrexham.

Sadly that was his last senior goal, as injury halted his progress, with Caton revealing the last year was as bad as it could get.

He said: "I thought I was doing all right at Swindon after Paul Sturrock went.

"I was going nowhere while Sturrock was in charge because he just never wanted to involve me.

"When they needed the bodies for reserve games, because they would just have eight players, they would include me but that was about it.

"Some days I would warm up and then they would have an 11 vs 11 in training and I would not even be in the 22. I would just go on a run with the (then) fitness coach Jordan Milsom. I may as well have been at a cross-country running club.

"I had some amazing times at Swindon but that is football.

"When it goes for you it is the best job in the world but when it is bad it is the worst.

"But I met some amazing people and the fans have been brilliant to me. I hope they at last get the success they deserve and it is just a shame I won't be a part of it.

"The club obviously means a lot to me but I need to restart my future somewhere else.

"I had been put down for so long at Swindon I started to believe that I was not good enough.

"I know now I can do it.

"I need to get my fitness back and I believe I will be back in League football in no time."