Embleton on postives and the return of Kasim

Swindon Town first team coach Ross Embleton has admitted the Robins are looking to take positives from Saturday's defeat to Bury into tonight's away clash against Walsall - a match which could see a return from the start for influential play maker Yaser Kasim.

After falling to a 1-0 defeat upon home turf to Bury, Swindon Town are now charged with the sizeable task of overcoming high-flying Walsall in their own back yard.

"I think we have to focus on what was positive from the game on Saturday. Obviously we've failed to get the points we wanted, but we've watched the game back and there was a number of positives that the boys showed," Embleton told BBC Wiltshire this week.

"The game started with us being apprehensive in some areas but I think that's probably to be expected in the situation we found ourselves in of late. 

"Despite one or two players coming back into the team you've got to remember it was their first game back and they're obviously trying to get to grips with the pace and tempo again," he added.

With tonight's opponents Walsall in third place in League One, a mere six points away from leaders Wigan Athletic, Embleton believes the size of the task could prove to be a strong impetus for Town to put up a fight.

"Hopefully with it (tonight's game) being such a quick turnaround and it being a game against a team at the top end of the table, it might be able to give us that little bit of inspiration to perform and give it everything we've got to get something out of the game," said Embleton.

Swindon Town now find themselves on a run of eight leagues without a victory and sitting in 16th place as a result. Embleton believes the players may have been looking for a flash of inspiration during this baron patch, but insists this can be delivered by the likes of the returning Yaser Kasim.

"I'm sure there have been stages during that period of games where the boys have looked around at themselves and looked around the changing room for some inspiration or a bit of a lift, but there are many boys in their first or second season at this level and they sometimes need that lift," Embleton said.

"But when you're a young player, or any players who's under pressure, when you're looking around the changing room or looking around training for some inspiration, having someone like Yaser (Kasim) with the ability he's got and the qualities he brings, the calmness that he plays the game with, would be very, very reassuring," he added.

"I think only time will tell with Yaser as to whether or not he's capable of playing for 90 minutes. I think if you ask him he'd want to play 90 minutes, however you've got to be careful of the fact that he's come back from an extended injury," Embleton said.

"We've got to consider whether he's capable of playing the time we want him to play but also the long term for him, making sure he's physically capable of playing for the rest of the season and beyond for us.

"If it was a Saturday to Saturday it would be a good idea to say 'we're going to start Yaser and play him for as long as we can till he runs out of steam and bring him off', but what we have to be careful of is, although he only played 32 minutes or so at the weekend, we have to make sure we don't say 'right Yaser, you're going straight back into the team.'

"I'm sure that's what he wants to do but we've just got to tread carefully and make sure that with such a short period between playing and starting the next game, that Yaser is full capable of getting out on the pitch and starting a game at full tilt," Embleton added.

Swindon Town face Walsall this evening at the Bescot Stadium - Kick-off 7.45pm.