Lloyd Isgrove back fit but still no Dion Donohue says Wellens

RICHIE WELLENS has revealed that Swindon Town winger Lloyd Isgrove will make his return from injury this weekend as the Robins travel to face Grimsby Town. However full-back Dion Donohue is yet to be registered for the club as the EFL stall on their decision to approve the signing. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to the Swindon manager ahead of the upcoming League Two fixture.

Picking up a knee injury in Swindon’s four-nil away victory over Crawley Town at the end of October has seen sidelined for six matches as Town have soared to the top of the League Two table. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to The Mariners, Wellens revealed that the 26-year-old winger has returned to training and will be in the Matchday squad as Swindon seek to extend their five-game winning streak. 

“Lloyd Isgrove is back and has been training,” said Wellens. 

“He’s looking fit and will be in the squad for Saturday against Grimsby.

“He’s been out for six or seven weeks and is still amongst the top three players for assists in the division which speaks volumes about how important he is for us. 

“He gives us a different dimension and he is the only out-and-out winger that we have at the club,” he added. 

“He stretches the pitch for us and creates more space for the full-back to run into. 

“Obviously at this level he is a very very good player and we are really happy to have him back. 

“Now he’s back we have the option to go back to playing 4-4-2 which we scored a lot of goals doing,” said Wellens.

However, Wellens later went on to state that Isgrove will start on the bench with him refusing to make any knee-jerk changes to the existing winning set-up.

“It’s not a selection headache because he isn’t match fit yet and he will start on the bench,” said Wellens.

“The players have to trust me that if they play well then I will keep playing them regardless of who is waiting in the wings. 

“These players have been on a great run and I will stick with them,” he said. 

One player who won’t be making the trip to Grimsby, however, is full-back Dion Donohue, with Wellens explaining that the EFL are yet to allow the 26-year-old to sign for the club, stating that the governing body has refused to explain their decision.

“Every time the secretary rings me I’m hoping they’re calling about Dion Donohue,” stated Wellens. 

“But at the moment we’re at the mercy of the EFL and we’ve not heard any news yet on why we can’t register him for the club.

“I don’t think the EFL really give you explanations on anything. 

“When you get sent to the stands and it’s not your fault and you get fined and given a two-match ban, they don’t write to you explaining their decision,” he said.

“They just make a decision and because they hold all the power they just go with it. 

“This is why you see so many indifferent decisions from referees because they aren’t held to any accountability,” said Wellens.