Holloway gives update on Smith and Barden injuries
Swindon Town are hopeful that Dan Barden will be back soon after he had to come off with a facial injury against Notts County.
In the 66th minute at Meadow Lane, Town’s goalkeeper collided with Alassana Jatta in the penalty area as they both looked to get on the end of a cross.
Both players had to come off, with Barden having a bandage around his forehead as Jack Bycroft finished the game for Swindon.
After the match, Ian Holloway said that the Norwich City loanee had not got a concussion and could be back quickly.
He said: “He got kicked in the face – he and Harry [Smith] are looking exactly the same at the moment with bruises all over their faces, they look like they have gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson.
“I am sure that it will be ok, it was not a concussion, so he does not have to be out for two weeks.
“That was the bit that was going on, we were trying to see if it was a concussion.
“It is an absolute nightmare sometimes on this bench, I have had some weird things happen like when Harry got knocked out the other day.
“I just can’t wait for what tomorrow is going to bring because I am loving every minute of it, so bring it on.”
Town were also without their leading marksman Smith for the game against Notts County after he had come off against Colchester United on New Year's Day following a clash of heads with Tom Hopper.
Smith had broken his nose and Holloway said ahead of the match that the striker had got a face mask to allow him to play on despite the injury.
However, the former Millwall man was not in the matchday 18 at Meadow Lane and Holloway said after the match that that was due to Swindon having had yet another swift turnaround between their matches.
He said: “With Harry, he has broken his nose and he hasn’t had a chance to train [with the mask on yet], so he doesn’t know how painful it truly is.
“He wanted to play but I didn’t feel that it was right, so I left him out and you could see how important he is to us.
“Hopefully, next week we can get him on the grass with the mask on and we can see if he is fit.”
