THE dream of playing for Swindon is just starting to sink in for Alan Connell, who today will have another chance to stake his claim for a place in the starting 11 in next week’s season opener against Crewe.

Connell labelled his switch from Grimsby to the Robins earlier this month as a ‘dream move’ as the 28-year-old looks to take his fine goalscoring record at non-league level into the Football League.

The Londoner has played in two friendlies for Town so far, scoring with a clinical finish in Monday’s victory at Cirencester.

He and the rest of the Town squad will be given a much tougher test in Town’s final pre-season friendly against Reading today, with the Royals excepted to take a strong side on the short trip up the M4.

It is the last chance for the players to try to impress Di Canio in a match situation and Connell is desperate to prove his worth to the Town boss.

He told the Advertiser: “It has been a bit strange at the moment. I have not had time to think because it has been double sessions every day so it has felt like all we do is eat, sleep and train.

“I have just found a house but I was in a hotel recently with all the other new signings and we are all trying to find our way around Swindon. We have a lot of news players so it will take time to gel.

“But it is all gradually sinking in and I think once we put the shirt on and play in front of the home supporters it will really kick in.

“I feel a part of the team now and I am sure once the games start coming I will feel even more like a Swindon Town player.

“Training has been toned down now and it is more tactical and we still have some time now to show the manager what we can do.”

Connell is one of a number of players vying for the two places in Town’s forward line, along with Raffa De Vita, Mehdi Kerrouche and Billy Bodin.

Di Canio remains keen to add one more striker and a big hint that whoever he brings in will be signed with the intention of being an automatic starter was that the number nine shirt was left vacant when the squad numbers were announced last week.

“It seemed like no one wanted that shirt,” said Connell. “Everyone chose the number they wanted and it may be that there is more players coming in, I don’t know, but we have a great squad at the moment and if anyone else comes in they will be welcomed into it.”

Connell has the advantage over Town’s other strikers in that he has played in the Football League before, whereas for Kerrouche it will all be a new experience.

However, the French-Algerian has scored at every club he has played at before and he is confident he can do the same with the Robins.

“I am very happy to be here,” he said. “We have a good team that has good quality and a good manager.

“I really hope that I can have a great season with this team.”