CAMERON McGilp hopes to truly hit the ground running in his Swindon Town career once the players report back for pre-season later this summer.

Australian midfielder McGilp joined Town on transfer deadline day back in January, signing on a free from Championship side Birmingham City.

However, injury stifled his early progress at the Energy Check County Ground and he did not make his debut for the club until the final day of the season – the 3-1 win at home to Notts County on May 4.

After a spell back home Down Under to refresh, McGilp is hungry to finally start making his mark at SN1 once Richie Wellens' troops begin their preparations ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Speaking to BBC Wiltshire, McGilp said: "I had an injury, which I picked up in the first couple of weeks, but the club – the physios and the staff – have all been really good with it.

"They said: 'Take your time and make sure you get back fit'. I am fit now, so hopefully I will have a good pre-season and go on from there.

"I will have a little bit of time back home, stay as fit as I can and then when we come back, we have got that month to get ready before the season starts straight away."

After a long wait to run out for his new club, McGilp was thrilled to make his Town bow against County – with the contest also marking his Football League debut.

McGilp was introduced off the bench in the 72nd minute, and the 21-year-old conceded he felt the pinch after a spell on the sidelines.

McGilp said: "It was good but it was tough.

"I didn't think 20 minutes could be that hard – there was a lot of running. It was a good experience."