Academy stars Louis Millard and Lucas Griffiths-Brown have signed professional deals with the club after enjoying impressive summers.
One of the stories of the off-season has been the way that Millard and Griffiths-Brown have been able to step into the first team and adeptly cover the gaps in the squad, and both have been rewarded for that.
The duo have both agreed to two-year contracts with the option for a third, committing the academy players to the club.
They join goalkeeper Charlie Summers, who signed up to the same contract earlier this summer, and is believed to have impressed heavily in training.
Swindon have changed how they operate with academy players since Ian Holloway has arrived at the club, with all scholars agreeing to a potential two-year contract with an optional extension upon signing, which can be taken up if they impress the former Blackpool boss.
Both have looked very impressive across pre-season and made their senior debuts in the Carabao Cup at Cardiff City last week.
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Millard was in from the start, with Joe Snowdon and Fletcher Holman out injured and Joseph Hungbo still coming up to speed, and created the opening goal inside ten minutes as he got away from his marker, was found by Matty Virtue, and played the ball across goal where a touch from Gabriel Osho took it into the back of the net.
Griffiths-Brown came on in the second half, replacing Mitch Clark, and did an admirable job going up against Chris Willock, a tough task for any young player making their debut.
Both players have impressed heavily this summer, and the plan is that they will be part of Holloway’s first-team squad all season and train with them every day, such is the impression that they have made.
Swindon have brought in under-21 matches this season, having their first this week, a 1-0 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons, and it is hoped that this can facilitate the development of their young players.
Holloway said: “What we're trying to do is work with them as they are now men rather than boys, because they've earned the right to do it.
“I'm so proud to tell them and our fans that we have got some of our own, and I do believe they're good enough because I hated letting everybody go last year.
“My staff have said, ‘just wait a minute, Gaff’, and then they show me Louis. The impact he's made is amazing, because he's fresh, he's young, he's up for it, and he's running.”
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