MIDFIELDER Anthony Grant insists his body is coping well despite starting all but one of Swindon Town’s games this season.

Grant has played in all 12 of Town’s fixtures this term, scoring twice and only missing 56 minutes of competitive action since the belated season got underway.

The combative midfielder briefly went down during Tuesday night’s 4-2 defeat to Plymouth Argyle holding his ankle, but when quizzed about the potential problem afterwards, Grant insisted he was well enough to continue playing.

The 33-year-old reasoned that even if he was not at 100 per cent, the team has no other option in midfield, therefore Grant feels he must just put on a brave face and ride the pain out.

He said: “I’m feeling fine, I’ve got a few issues with my body, but we’re down to the bare bones so I’m not going to pull out.

“I’m a central midfield player and I’m going to give my all for the team and the fans. When I’m needed, I’ll stand up and make myself available.

“We’ve got eight or nine injuries, we’re down to the bare bones, and it’s just me and Matt Smith, so we’ve just got to get on with it.”

Another near ever-present in Town’s side this season has been Grant’s central-midfield partner, Matt Smith.

The Arsenal loanee has only missed two games, playing 90 minutes in each of the other 10 matches.

Smith has received plenty of plaudits from those who have seen or played with him already in a Town shirt, and Grant was the latest to wax lyrical over the talented 20-year-old, predicting the FA Cup winner to go on and have a great career in the game.

Grant said: “Matt Smith is unbelievable, he’s something special.

“He’s still learning the game and he gets frustrated, but he’s a ball player, he wants to put his foot in and press the ball.

“I know what people mean about saying we’re alike, but he’s going to have a very good career, the kid, and I do like playing with him.”

The pair are likely to line up together once again on Saturday as Swindon host Darlington in the first round of the FA Cup.

Town have not reached the third round of the world’s oldest football cup competition since 2011-12, and although that is still two wins away, Grant said the current side can give themselves a chance of ending that run if they apply themselves properly against their National League North opponents.

He said: “They’ve got nothing to lose – I’ve been in this situation myself, going to a professional team away from home on a nice pitch with nothing to lose.

“They can express themselves because all the pressure is going to be on us, so it’s about how we handle things and how we apply ourselves.

“It’s all about us, it’s not about them. If we apply ourselves properly then we should get the job done.”

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