Swindon Town are hoping to have defender Ryan Delaney straight back into contention as they take on Chesterfield at home this weekend.

Having been a key part of the defence for the last few months, Delaney missed the defeat at Harrogate Town as he was having stitches taken out of his knee, an injury he had been playing through for several weeks.

The return of Grant Hall to full training in the last two weeks and Miguel Freckleton after his injury provided the opportunity for Delaney to have his issue dealt with, with both playing their first games back on Saturday.

Ahead of the game at The Exercise Stadium, Ian Holloway said: “It is a big test for us this week with Ryan being out as we are having his stitches taken out, so he will be unavailable.

“That is a big test for us as he has been sensational, as has the whole back line in the way that they have gone about things.”

Swindon take on Chesterfield at The Nigel Eady County Ground this weekend hoping to return to winning ways and are hopeful of having Delaney available once again for selection if his knee responds in the right way.

Holloway said: “It depends on how it is healing and how it looks but that is why we have done it as quickly as this.

“He should be fit for next week.”

Aaron Drinan was also missing from the trip to Harrogate at the weekend, with Holloway saying that he felt they missed his influence in attack during the 1-0 defeat.

He sustained a suspected knee injury against Port Vale, with a first opinion fearing that it might be a knee ligament problem that could see him out for several months.

As they were unsure how he would have sustained such a specific injury without any contact in the Port Vale game, he was sent for a second opinion on what might have happened.

Drinan was supposedly in a lot of discomfort and has been struggling to move since picking up the injury, so even if it is not as bad as was first feared then he could still be looking at time out of the side.

Holloway said after Harrogate: “[Do you have any update on Drinan?] No. We are getting a second opinion and I will probably have something on Monday or Tuesday. We will have to wait and see.”