ELLIS Iandolo is on the right path to turning Richie Wellens’ head and earning his Swindon Town first-team shirt back.

The 21-year-old fell down the pecking order in the second half of last season, with his last appearance coming in the dramatic 2-1 win at Macclesfield Town on January 5.

Consequently, many fans understandably presumed Iandolo’s final contracted season at SN1 in 2019-20 had the potential to be a redundant one.

But hard work in pre-season coupled with glimmers of eye-catching moves on the pitch has seemingly changed manager Wellens’ opinion on the versatile midfielder.

And he is now in a position to push for first-team selection on Saturday, August 3 when Town travel to Scunthorpe United for their first game of the new League Two campaign.

Wellens said: “Sometimes I ask Ellis to be responsible on the pitch, and at times he lets himself down.

“But in terms of his application and attitude since he has come back, he has been really impressive. He’s probably changed my mind.

“He has done great this pre-season – he’s looked fit and strong.

“I didn’t start Michael Doughty and I didn’t start Rob Hunt against Birmingham on Friday because I know exactly what I’m going to get from them.

“I wanted to see a few things in different areas. We’ll get more of an idea what our starting team will be after we play Manchester United U23 and then Coventry, especially.”

Wellens was left angered and let down by Town’s first-half performance at Birmingham City’s Wast Hills training ground on Friday – a game that was lost 6-1.

The Town boss believed his players felt sorry for themselves, describing the performance as ‘lethargic’.

The above traits cannot afford to be repeated this week, as Wellens’ men face Manchester United U23s and Coventry City at the Energy Check County Ground on Tuesday and Saturday respectively.

Wellens said: “Everyone can pitch for first-team selection. But if they perform how they did in the first half at Birmingham where they were feeling sorry for themselves and were tired, then they won’t be.

“We had a bit more about us in the second half. Rob Hunt and Michael Doughty came on, they have that bit of experience and know how to be where they need to be on the pitch.

“And when the ball goes to them, you can trust them.”