DANNY Wilson has refuted suggestions that Alan O’Brien is injury prone, and believes having the winger back in action will be as good as a new signing.

The Irish international has only made nine appearances since signing on at the County Ground in the summer due to a succession of hamstring injuries, but played 45 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday night in his latest comeback bid.

Wilson is confident that the work of Swindon’s medical staff will see O’Brien firing on all cylinders before too long, but also knows the 24-year-old cannot be rushed back into first team action.

“I don’t think Alan is injury prone,” Town’s manager told the Advertiser.

“It’s a typical injury that people with ultra pace have - they always get hamstring problems. For some unknown reason you just tend to pick them up and he’s had a problem with it.

“We will be very careful about bringing him back but we hope we’ve got to the bottom of it now.”

O’Brien’s return will strengthen Swindon’s attacking options and increase competition for places in a team which has lost just once in league action since the end of October.

“We’ve extended the loans of Simon (Ferry) and Danny Ward to the end of the season, which were both bonuses. There’s two players we thought we may not have,” explained Wilson.

“And the third bonus is Alan O’Brien.

“If he can get himself in some sort of shape then he will be a massive boost for us between now and the end of the season.

“He offers us something we haven’t got in the team - blistering pace - especially on that left-hand side.

“So I want him fighting for a place with Danny on the left, and Danny fighting for places up front too, because that can only help the team.”