RICHIE Wellens feels his Swindon Town squad will quickly reap the benefits once some of their senior figures are able to play a more prominent role in the dressing room.

That could accelerate as early as this weekend, with Wellens suggesting striker Marc Richards could be fit to return for the trip to Grimsby Town in League Two.

Richards has missed Town’s last seven fixtures due to injury and has seen hopes of an earlier comeback cut short after twice pulling out in the warm-up ahead of matches.

With club captain Olly Lancashire having hit the milestone yesterday, Town have seven players over the age of 30 in their first-team squad.

However, three of those – Richards, Toumani Diagouraga and Chris Robertson – are on the injury list at present, robbing Wellens of valuable experience.

Although delighted with how his squad have got to grips with his methods since taking over as Town boss last month, winning three of five fixtures in that time, Wellens feels the return of senior pros will accelerate the process.

“Marc Richards may be fit for this weekend, Toumani Diagouraga is progressing well and Chris Robertson is back on the grass training,” said Wellens.

“Those are three lads who know the game and are very experienced – and that will be a help to us.

“I want them fit as soon as possible and I do think that when the experienced players come back, we are going to have a strong group.

“The players are learning all the time and taking on board everything I am saying.

“Sometimes – because of the way I am, being a Mancunian – I am quite aggressive in my demeanour, but I have told the players I don’t mean anything cynical in my nature, it is all constructive.

“Everything I give them will be to try to improve them as individuals and they are all taking it on board and I am really pleased with them.”

Richards looked like making his first Town appearance under Wellens during the trip to Port Vale back on November 24, only for the 36-year-old to withdraw in the warm-up.

The Town boss concedes his presence has been missed within the camp as the likes of Richards and player-coach Matt Taylor, provide valuable insight for the younger members of the squad to learn from.

“Marc is a good character. He was going to be starting at Port Vale and be captain,” said Wellens.

“He is a big influence in the dressing room. The more characters you get like that, the stronger your group is.

“Another good example is Matt Taylor – players who have long careers and are good examples to young players.

“If they look at somebody like Matt, who has played 500 games and played at the top level, and Marc – if those two are doing it right, there is no reason why the younger guys shouldn’t follow suit.”

Alongside Diagouraga and Robertson, Keshi Anderson is on Town’s list of absentees for the match at Grimsby, and Wellens says the club have managed the players carefully after a busy period.

“We looked after the players with a day off on Thursday because they had been in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Wellens.

“Then we will travel up on Friday and train when we get there.”