Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Teenage duo join Swindon on loan
SWINDON Town have taken two 19-year-olds on loan for the remainder of the Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Reading’s Scotland Under-20 forward Ben House and Brentford defender Canice Carroll have made the switch along the M4 to join the mid-table Robins.
House, pictured, has scored 11 goals in 19 games for Reading’s Under 23s, but has yet to make a first-team appearance.
Carroll, meanwhile, joined the Bees from Oxford United in the summer, and has also yet to feature in the first team.
He did, however, make 16 League One appearances for Oxford, having made his debut in 2015 aged 16 in the EFL Trophy.
Swindon assistant manager Noel Hunt said: “Ben’s enthusiastic and aggressive. We went to watch him four or five times and he’ll just give us that energy up front to press and be on the front foot.
“His work-rate is phenomenal and he’s got his goals in Reading’s Under-23s too.”
On Carroll, Hunt added: “He’s a good player – he can play in a number of positions; centre-half, midfield, right-back. He’s a player we can use anywhere across the back line and in midfield.
“He’s got plenty of energy and someone that will add something to our squad.”
Both players are in line to make their Robins debuts away to lowly Macclesfield this afternoon.
Swindon are currently 14th in League Two, Macclesfield 23rd.
CHRIS Clements has agreed an extension to his contract that keeps him at Cheltenham Town for the rest of this season.
The 28-year-old arrived on an initial six-month deal at the end of August and has established himself as a regular in Michael Duff ’s starting XI in recent weeks.
“I’m enjoying being here,” he said. “The lads are really good – I like what the manager is doing and the way we’re trying to play suits me.”
Clements was a member of the Mansfield team that won promotion back to the Football League in 2012.
He spent a total of four years with the Stags before joining Grimsby at the start of last season, switching to Forest Green Rovers on loan for the second half of the campaign.
Former Crewe Alexandra trainee Clements has scored three goals in 18 starts and two substitute appearances for the Robins so far.
“I won’t take my foot off the gas now that I’ve extended until the end of the season,” Clements said.
“When players are coming to the end of their deals they have to impress that little bit more, but I won’t take my foot off the gas and will keep trying to get points for Cheltenham. You’ve got to keep playing to the best of your ability. It’s what you get signed at a club for.
“Hopefully I can continue that and we finish as high as we can this year.”
Cheltenham play Crawley away in League Two this afternoon. The 18th-placed Robins are one point and one place behind their opponents in the table.
Forest Green are without a game this afternoon and manager Mark Cooper may spend the weekend mulling over his options after onloan goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was recalled by parent club Brighton.
The Premier League side need cover in the position as first-choice Matt Ryan has departed to play for Australia in the Asia Cup.
Sanchez joined Rovers in the summer on a season-long loan and has been competing with James Montgomery throughout the campaign for the number one position.
The 21-year-old, pictured left, made 17 appearances for Rovers, keeping two clean sheets, but lost his place to his rival last month.
Sanchez returned for the 2-1 win over Yeovil in December, but former Gateshead number one Montgomery has been the man chosen between the sticks since.
A club statement said: “Everyone at Forest Green would like to wish Robert Sanchez the best of luck in his future career.”
Forest Green are next scheduled to be in action a week today when they visit Oldham in League Two.