JANUARY loan signing Ollie Banks is thrilled to have made an instant impact since his switch to Swindon Town.

The midfielder was one of a five incoming deals struck by Swindon boss David Flitcroft last month, with Banks making a temporary move from League One side Oldham Athletic.

Banks has found game time hard to come by at the Latics so far this season and even spent a previous loan spell down in the National League with Tranmere.

However, he has made a fine first impression at the Energy Check County Ground, playing the full 90 minutes in all four of Town’s League Two games since his arrival and he even headed home the match-winner in Tuesday night’s 1-0 success away at Stevenage.

That was Banks’ second goal in Swindon colours, having also notched in the 3-1 loss at Coventry City a fortnight ago, and the 25-year-old is delighted to have settled in so swiftly.

“It is nice to come in and do well initially as everyone is behind you from the get-go,” said Banks.

“If you come in and have a few iffy games, then you can get a bit nervous and the confidence might not be there. I have hit the ground running and hopefully I can continue that.

“A few of the lads said to me they didn’t think I had a header in me.

“I have scored a few headers in the past and obviously Matt Taylor has got great quality from set-pieces, so it was just about trying to meet it at the right time and luckily I did and the keeper didn’t react in time.”

After edging to victory in a 4-3 thriller last weekend, Tuesday’s contest at Stevenage was the opposite end of the spectrum as Banks’ goal was the only clear-cut chance at either end throughout the 90 minutes.

With a similarly nervy encounter expected when Swindon travel to Lincoln City this afternoon, Banks believes it is a good sign that the side have shown they are capable of coming out on top no matter the manner of the game.

“You looked at the pitch at Stevenage and saw it was a horrible night, windy and rainy, so it was never going to be a spectacle,” said Banks.

“We knew what was coming and the gaffer prepared us and we went out there and did a professional job “It was a completely different game to the previous weekend, everyone went out there with a different mindset to what they did against Crewe.

“We played some good stuff at times against Crewe and although there wasn’t much in the way of good stuff on Tuesday, as long as we come out with three points, I don’t think the performance matters at times.”

Town are currently seventh in the League Two table heading into today’s match at Sincil Bank, just two points ahead of Lincoln down in ninth.