Thompson can play Town role (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

Thompson can play Town role

6:00am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in nPower League Two By Sam Morshead

Nathan Thompson will have a part to play in Swindon’s assault on League One next season, according to manager Paolo Di Canio.

The Advertiser understands that the utility player, a product of Town’s youth system, will put pen to paper on revised terms with the Robins when he returns from holiday later this month.

Thompson made just seven appearances under Di Canio as Swindon stormed to the League Two title last term, partly because of injury but principally due to the consistently high form of captain Paul Caddis at right-back.

The 21-year-old still sees his future in Wiltshire, however, and his boss stressed how impressed he has been with Thompson since he took control at the club last year.

“We need to have a soldier. If Nathan Thompson signs I want to keep him because he’s ambitious, because he gives me quality in the training sessions, because he is the guy who gives everything.

“That is important for the manager. When you have 22 players that, in every training session, fight with desire and ambition, that improves what you bring in the games.

“Nathan Thompson is a good player. He wanted to stay. I don’t know if he will play one game or 20 games. We will see because he will have a second pre-season with me and he can improve physically, he can improve tactically and he can integrate himself more with the rest of the team.

“It’s obvious that in his position there is Paul Caddis. If we think about this year, Caddis started with a big advantage on him. But Nathan can play left-back, right-back, left wing, right wing. The fact he can do that means he could have an advantage to play a part if he stays in his position with this club.”

Di Canio admitted he will need his entire squad to be committed to the cause next term, as Town look to secure back to back promotions.

“With me, everybody has to confirm their availability, ambition, desire to give more because we are at a different stage this year,” he said.

“If they are thinking they are going to behave in exactly the same way they are wrong and it is the same for the manager “I have to have more knowledge, I have to work more than I did last year in the right way, and it’s exactly the same with my players.

“Nathan Thompson is one, in my opinion, in the middle of 24 players, to do a great job.

“We can’t have maybe 11 top players and 17 very, very bad players and make happy only the 11 and the 17 are happy as they have a contract, even if they don’t play.

“We can’t have also 24 top players. In a team that you want to win you have seven, eight that make a difference, that are crucial and make a base of the team - (Matt) Ritchie, (Alan) McCormack, Simon Ferry, (Paul) Caddis, Wes (Foderingham) - we have many.”

Meanwhile, Swindon were yesterday linked with a move for Charlton striker Paul Hayes.

Reports in London suggested the Robins are competing with Brentford and Notts County for the forward’s signature.