PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE: Swindon Town v Oldham Athletic

That concludes today's press conference. Thank you for joining us.

Garner on 0players coming back from injury:

"We are assessing that now and Ben Gladwin is doing really well so we will get him scanned again. He feels good and is in a good place but it's one of those injuries we need to make sure we can push it. We will see how that is and hopefully get him closer to a return and we will do the same with Louie Barry. He is really positive to get back and if we can get those two back then it will be a huge lift and a massive increase in the quality available."

Garner on dealing with direct football:

"I think we have improved on that front generally and personnel changes we made helped with that. That has got to be something you have to deal with in this league regardless of how you want to play yourself, defending direct play and dealing with second balls has a huge bearing on games. We have a fair idea of how they will play and we want to impose our game. Pressing is key for us and we want to dominate the ball and play high up the pitch. The better we can do that the more it reduces the way they play."

Garner on adjusting to injuries:

"It changes things and you have to be very mindful of the injuries and the loading in games. We had a big run of games and we always seem to be playing teams on Saturday who have had no midweek game which is another challenge. This week is about getting the tactical understanding into players and making it clear on how we will play whilst not putting too much into their legs and risking injuries. We always try to paint the picture as clear as best as we can are still putting in lots of preparation but are doing it in a slightly different way.

"I think the players take that change in their stride and as staff, we are very detailed in how we work and it's making it clear to the players. When you train intensely physically naturally it tunes you in mentally so sometimes when you take a bit off physically it's important to emphasise that and that we are still sharp in our minds. We want the players on 3pm Saturday in the best possible place to perform.

Garner on Swindon's ability to bounce back after defeat:

"I think that's important and is about the character of the group. For example Tuesday night If i lose my head with the players what's the point because it will be the same players going again on Saturday. Any defeat I see is more on me than the players. Saturday is a huge game for us given the numbers we have in our squad."

Garner on players' nerves during run-in:

"We aren't nervous at all and the bigger the games the better we perform. I look at the size of squads around us and there is no pressure on us. No one placed us above 23rd in all the predictions at the start of the season and we would love to get a minimum of the playoffs."

Garner on John Sheridan reception:

"Supporters can do whatever they want and it is their choice. Any atmosphere that is created helps us and we want that intensity. If that adds extra spice to tomorrow then that will only help us. If the players come out and feel the energy then that will be a massive help, probably more than any other game this season due to our numbers."

Garner on Oldham:

"They have done really well recently and are really fighting for each other and fighting for every point. Teams in that position will fight for everything and we need to make sure our desire is stronger than theirs. I don't know John Sheridan and have never come across his teams before. Our focus is purely on the game."

Garner on Jack Payne:

"I think he could [start Saturday] whether he could do 90 minutes is another matter. He had a really good impact at Bradford and 45 minutes in Tuesday has done him a world of good. It's like having another player and he will be really strong for us between now and the rest of the season."

Garner on Harrison Minturn re-call"

"He's back due to the size of the squad and he will come straight into tomorrow's squad. He did really well at Chippenham and at the moment we need him around us and in the squad."

Garner on limited squad size:

"Straight from the start of the season that was a concern [with injuries]. We have just been unfortunate if I'm honest and we have had impact injuries in games such as achilles, ankle, ligament tears and a lot of injuries in a short period of time which is frustrating. There isn't much you can do about a lot of those injuries. The soft tissue and muscle injuries are ones we think we can control. On the whole I think we have done well with injuries."

Garner on Conroy:

"It was his first game back and there were a few players in the same boat. That performance will have done him well and will allow him to have got up to speed. As much as you replicate in training you can't provide what a game does and you need that game-time from a psychological point of view as well. The players that came back will be better for it and we can't do too much in training at the moment."

Garner on McKirdy absence:

"I think we have to play to the attributes of the players in the team. Harry gives us great energy and really good quality, with the season he has had that is a miss when he's not unavailable. Tomorrow we will get a team out that we feel can win the game and we have enough quality to win the game tomorrow."

Garner on potential Mandela Egbo signing:

"It's something we are looking at and that is ongoing at the moment. He won't be available Saturday but potentially further down the line. It is a little bit more complicated because his last club was in America. If we do manage to get that signing done I'm happy to answer those questions."

Garner on injuries:

"Pretty much as we are with one or two to be assessed this morning who didn't train yesterday. I'm hoping we can go in with the same squad that we had Tuesday. We have a couple of knocks from Tuesday and we need to be careful as we can't afford any more longer-term injuries."

Ben Garner has now joined us.

We are in the zoom call and waiting for Ben Garner to join us now.

Whilst we wait for the press conference to begin, let's look over some of the key talking points heading into this highly-anticipated fixture.

John Sheridan returns to the County Ground for the first time since his disastrous one-season tenure that saw Swindon relegated from League One last season. His style of play was ineffective, his relationship with players was abrasive, and his ability to turn on the local media was unrivalled. The 57 year old joined Oldham for a record sixth time as manager and is seeking to keep English football's biggest basket-case of a club in the division.

Ben Garner will be hoping his Robins can get back to winning ways after suffering a 3-1 away defeat to Exeter City on Tuesday night, and will be hoping that some time on the training pitch has allowed Swindon to recoup after a series of injuries.

Good morning and thank you for joining us for today's Swindon Town press conference as we speak to Head Coach Ben Garner to preview tomorrow's County Ground clash against Oldham Athletic. We are waiting for the zoom call to begin shortly and expect Ben Garner to be with us around 8.30am.