INJURY to Aden Flint may have pushed Joe Devera up the pecking order, but the defender is taking nothing for granted as he looks to keep his place in the Swindon defence for tonight’s game against former club Barnet.

Devera had been a regular in defence back when Swindon’s form started to pick up in September but lost his place in the side after suffering an ankle injury.

During his absence, Flint and Alan McCormack formed a formidable partnership, one that Devera was always going to find difficult to break up.

But he has waited patiently for his chance and was back in the side for the League Two game against Rotherham and has been consistently impressive ever since.

On Friday, Swindon were rocked by the news that Flint could miss the rest of the season with a groin injury, but Devera’s form has certainly helped allay fears over how Town will cope without the giant defender.

However, with the on-loan Daniel Boateng waiting in the wings and the likes of Alessandro Cibocchi and Oliver Risser able to step in, Devera knows he can never take his place in the side as a given.

“There is always going to be competition,” he told the Advertiser. “I want to keep my place in the side now and just keep working hard for the team.

“Tonight’s game a massive game for both teams and both will want to win, so I am focused on that and hopefully we can get a result.

“It is a massive, massive game for us.

“We know what is at stake and we won’t be taking them for granted.

“We will just go about our business and hopefully we will get the result.

Devera, who celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday, opened his Swindon account with a goal in the 4-1 win at Southend last week.

It was a crucial strike as it restored Town’s two-goal advantage soon after Southend had pulled a goal back.

And the defender is hoping there will be a few more to come before the season is out.

“It was my first goal for a long time, not just as a Swindon player,” said Devera.

“I think the keeper could have probably done a bit better but it was a great moment for me and hopefully I can get another.”