LAWRENCE Vigouroux says plenty of rest has been crucial to him making a seamless return to the Swindon Town side following time away on international duty.

Goalkeeper Vigouroux was handed a starting place in the Town team for the first time since September 1 last Saturday when he was named between the sticks for the goalless draw at home to Mansfield Town.

After an encouraging clean sheet, the 24-year-old kept his place for Tuesday night’s home meeting against Cambridge United, although could do nothing about the visitors’ goals as they claimed a 2-0 win.

Vigouroux only lost his place in the Town team following a maiden international call up for Chile, having been named in the squad for friendlies away at Japan and South Korea in September.

He was unable to oust Luke McCormick from the number one jersey upon his return and then headed back for duty for his country in the middle of this month for trips to Peru and Mexico.

Despite only landing back in England 48 hours before Town’s clash with the Stags last weekend, boss Phil Brown opted to call Vigouroux back into action, and the former Liverpool stopper puts his smooth transition back into the team down to long spells of sleep.

“I landed back on Thursday afternoon, so I came in on Friday and the manager pulled me to one side and asked if I was ready to be involved,” said Vigouroux.

“I didn’t feel tired. When I came back from Japan I was knackered, but coming from Mexico, it wasn’t bad. It is easier to adapt from a time zone that is behind.

“It was a normal response, it is just the routine of trying to get back into the team for the past month and a bit.

“The secret to the recovery is just a lot of sleeping tablets – that is it, really. I have been taking a lot of them and sleeping quite a lot.

“I make sure I am ready for training and ready for games but after that, I am just sleeping – that is the secret.”

Although Vigoruoux has been an unused substitute for each of the Chile matches he has been selected for so far, he has taken plenty of encouragement from his involvement.

The chance to work alongside some of the game’s stellar names, such as Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez, have only served to whet his appetite for more.

“Being around world class players like Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal, players like that, it is amazing to see what they do and how they keep themselves motivated for games,” said Vigouroux.

“When I first met up with the squad in Miami, myself and the goalkeeper coach sat down and watched near enough all of my clips from every Swindon game, which shows that they are taking a keen interest.

“I am training well and I was close to playing the first game. It is normal in football, I have got to keep my head up and hope to be involved next month and beyond.

“We are all good goalkeepers there. We work hard every day and we just try to prove ourselves to the manager whether we are good enough to start because he only sees us once a month.

“I have done myself proud out there and I would never turn that opportunity down.”