SWINDON Town assistant coach Scott Marshall acknowledged now might be a good time for a break ahead of a hectic schedule in the remainder of 2021.

Following Swindon’s belated decision to postpone the club’s League Two clash at home to Crawley Town, Ben Garner’s men can enjoy an 11-day break between competitive fixtures – a period that Marshall guarantees will be put to good use.

The Town squad is thought to have been given up to four days off over the weekend off before turning attention to an away trip to Newport County next Saturday.

Having played 20 games in a little over three months – and with up to 10 matches through the final six weeks of the year, depending on when the Crawley game gets rearranged for – a small period to recharge might be a blessing in disguise, according to Marshall.

The Town assistant said: “We’ve certainly had a good block of work up to this point, so we’ll work hard for the rest of this week before we disappear over the weekend.

“But the focus will always be on the next game, which is Newport. We’ve got that approaching over the horizon, and then we’ll be into the thick of it throughout December.

“Next month brings many, many games with plenty of fixtures that we’ve got to fulfil. It’s maybe a nice time to have a little breather before we go again.”

Despite the protracted takeover severely affected Town’s pre-season plans in July, the first three months have seen the Swindon squad reach peak match fitness while maintaining positive results.

Marshall reasoned that the enforced break at this stage could be viewed as both a good and a bad thing, but everyone at the County Ground will make the best of the situation ahead of a return to action against Newport in eight days’ time.

Marshall said: “Everyone is at different places at the moment. It can be mental fatigue if you’re turning up every day and giving 100 per cent.

“I’m not saying we’re ready for a break in any way, shape, or form. Performances have been good, and there’s momentum there – sometimes you don’t want a break.

“But the way the fixtures have fallen with some of the lads being away on international duty, it is what it is.

“We’ll take the opportunity to have a little break, and you switch back on again when the time is right to build up to the next game.”