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Michael Doughty rejoins Swindon Town on season long loan

Midfielder Michael Doughty will be rejoining Swindon Town on loan for the duration of the 2016/17 League One campaign, the club have today confirmed.

Doughty joined up with Luke Williams side in the January transfer window of the 15/16 season, filling theh void left by departing central midfielder Ben Gladwin, whose loan stint came to an end.

On the eve of the 2016/17 season Swindon Town have secured the services of the 23-year-old for his second spell in Wiltshire.

He's back! Michael Doughty has joined Town on a season-long loan from @QPRFC pic.twitter.com/ASS9wZ802l
— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) August 5, 2016

The capture of the dynamic midfielder has been hailed by manager Luke Williams as a fine acquisition, with the head coach insisting the wait was worth it as Doughty was their number one choice.

Speaking to BBC Wiltshire, Williams said: "(He’s) somebody that we know and somebody that we trust and I’m delighted with that and I know the players - it will be a big boost for them as well.

"It's just a fantastic signing and really, somebody that was our very first choice when we started to talk about bringing players in in the summer, and it’s taken a long time because obviously QPR have had a very long, serious look at Michael as well, which you would expect, and we’re just delighted that it’s done now and he’s here.”

During the previous season Doughty notched 28 appearances for the Robins, after his initial short-term loan deal was extended by the club.

The midfielder found the net five times and soon became a mainstay in the centre of midfield for Luke Williams, as he began to mould the Town side into a vision of his own.

The Swindon boss was also quick to praise the versatility of the midfielder, adding that Doughty's ability to play across the park could be invaluable for the Robins going forward.

"I think he’s so versatile that he could play as a holding midfield player in that number four position, he’s shown that he’s very capable of playing (as) a number eight – box-to-box – and I think, especially with the performance that we saw at Bradford away (a 1-0 loss on April 9), where he played almost as a false nine on his own in the middle of the pitch and caused all sorts of problems; it was something that he really enjoyed.

“So to have that level to tactical understanding, somebody that’s that dynamic, is a gift, really, especially as we’ve been talking about the squad being small.

“When you’ve got somebody that can play three positions at least, it’s a fantastic bonus for us," said Williams.

”I think he’s so versatile that he could play as a holding midfield player in that number four position, he’s shown that he’s very capable of playing as a number eight, box-to-box, and I think, especially with the performance that we saw at Bradford away where he played almost as a false nine on his own in the middle of the pitch and caused all sorts of problems; it was something that he really enjoyed.

“So to have that level to tactical understanding, somebody that’s that dynamic, is a gift, really, especially as we’ve been talking about the squad being small. When you’ve got somebody that can play three positions at least, it’s a fantastic bonus for us," added Williams.