MARK Cooper has backed on-loan full-back Jamie Reckord to get through a difficult start to life in Swindon Town colours.

Reckord joined the Robins on a 93-day emergency loan deal ian January and has since made four appearances for Cooper’s men, filling in at left-back for the injured and then suspended Jay McEveley.

However, the 21-year-old has found it hard to slot into the Town side and his place in the team was called into question by a number of fans at the weekend after a rash tackle three minutes before half-time gave Lloyd James the chance to put Leyton Orient in front in the two teams’ League One encounter.

Cooper accepted Reckord has struggled to settle but he believes he has the potential to be a useful player for Swindon.

“It’s difficult when somebody comes in,” Cooper told the Advertiser. “He’s been on a loan spell at Plymouth and he’s played in the Premier League for Wolves. Some players come in and they find it difficult but Jamie’s got good ability, we’ve just got to see a little more from him.”

Despite missing Nathan Thompson, Grant Hall and McEveley for the trip to Brisbane Road on Saturday, Cooper was still reluctant to hand a start to Jack Barthram.

When asked by the Advertiser post-match whether the former Spurs man is closing in on a place in the side given his teammates’ fluctuating form, Cooper said: “He may have a case. Jack’s with us for another year so he’s one that we’re looking to next year.”

McEveley and Nathan Thompson will return for the visit of Crawley Town tomorrow and Cooper is thankful for such small mercies. The Town boss also accepted that Troy Archibald-Henville, who conceded Orient’s second penalty of the afternoon on Saturday, did not have the finest 90 minutes at Brisbane Road.

“We miss Jay and he’s done really well for us, Nathan Thompson has been fantastic as well so they can only strengthen us,” he said.

“When we ask them to play like we do it puts a lot of pressure on them. Troy had a difficult time but he kept going.

“He’s tired, he’s not played for a long time, he’s had three games in so many days and you could see the effects of that today.”