STEVEN Alzate will not assume his place in the Swindon Town team is assured even after bagging his first goal for the club last time out.

Alzate opened the scoring for Town during last weekend’s trip to Yeovil Town in League Two, paving the way for a 3-0 win for Phil Brown’s side at Huish Park.

That was the latest in a series of impressive performances from the 20-year-old midfielder, who is on a season-long loan at the Energy Check County Ground from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Central midfield is currently the most competitive position within the Town squad, with the likes of Michael Doughty, Toumani Diagouraga, James Dunne, Martin Smith and Jak McCourt all vying with Alzate for places in the side as Swindon prepare to return to action at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

With so many options at Brown’s disposal, Alzate says no one can take selection for granted, although the youngster feels that in-house rivalry is helping drive up standards within the camp.

“We don’t want to get too complacent. We’ve got around seven or eight very good midfielders all fighting to start,” said Alzate, who has appeared in 11 of Swindon’s 12 games so far this season.

“Even the players that do not start are backing us. We’re one team and when individuals get an opportunity they want to take it.

“We’re looking forward to Oldham. It’ll be nice to play at home where we have a good record.

“It’s nice to keep a clean sheet too. I felt like we were a threat on the attack and defensively, we looked solid too.”

Alzate’s goal against the Glovers came via a fine low strike from outside the box after jinking his way forward from midfield.

The loanee paid tribute to Brown for the part he played in breaking his Swindon duck, with the Town boss having encouraged his players to rain in more efforts on Yeovil keeper Nathan Baxter given the testing wet conditions in Somerset.

“Phil said at half-time that if we get the chance to shoot, then shoot,” said Alzate.

“I had the ball under my feet and felt like I could shoot – that’s exactly what I did.”

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