Competition For Places In Di Canio's Midfield

McCormack trains with Town

Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio has followed up Monday's double signing by further bolstering his midfield with the capture of unatached winger Etienne Esajas and Charlton Athletic midfielder Alan McCormack.

Following Monday's arrival of strikers Alan Connell and Mehdi Kerrouche and indeed Tuesday's friendly victory over local side Swindon Supermarine, popular opinion amongst supporters was that Town were potentially just a few signings away from being ready for the upcoming League Two campaign.

And Di Canio has moved to appease said fans by signing up Dutchman Esajas and central midfielder McCormack on two and three-year deals respectively, taking the Summer arrivals list at the County Ground to twelve players.

Pacy winger Esajas arrives on the back of a successful trial. Having featured in the second half of the 5-0 friendly victory over a Marche XI in Italy, scoring one and setting up another, he was given a second chance to impress in Tuesday's friendly with Supermarine, once more being granted game time in the second 45 minute period.

And impress he did with the former Sheffield Wednesday man once more getting his name on the scoresheet as Town romped to a comfortable 4-0 victory against their Non-League opponents. With the game being the first opportunity for Swindon fans to see the new squad in action, it was perhaps even more important for Esajas to gain some recognition and, indeed his constant running at defenders, movement on the ball and in field runs certianly aided his desire to impress.

The winger has pace to burn and, judging by performances in two friendlies thus far, a magnetic pull towards the opposing goal. With his pace, skill and willingness to take player on and shoot central in convincing Di Canio to tie him down to a two-year contract, signing Esajas already looks to be a shrewd piece of business as the rookie manager continues to reshape, reassemble and rebuild a Swindon team on the back of last year's relegation.

Meanwhile, midfielder McCormack has become manager Di Canio's twelth Summer signing after Charlton agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent. He only joined the Addicks last Summer following former club Southend's relegation, though his departure from The Valley has not disappointed Charlton fans.

McCormack's imminent arrival, however, has sparked concerns amongst fans regarding the future of Simon Ferry. His position is central midfield - a position Town now have five players more than capable to play in. And with Ferry seemingly set be overlooked by a third Swindon manager in succession, question marks are rightly being raised with regard to the former Celtic youngster's Swindon future.

Having initialy been signed on a season-long loan deal from the Scottish giants in 2009, Ferry's fantastic performances and indeed the development of a solid central midfield partnership with the recently-departed Jonathan Douglas earned him a permanent transfer to the County Ground last Summer.

But the midfielder found himself overlooked by first Danny Wilson and then Paul Hart, with Douglas, David Prutton and, at times, Michael Timlin in front of him in the pecking order. As a result, the Scot's fitness and focus suffered as he finished the season with just a handful of appearances and Swindon saw themselves relegated.

The Summer departures of Douglas and Prutton have been addressed with the signings of Namibia international and new club captain Oliver Risser and former York City midfielder Jonathan Smith, whilst Timlin has seen his contract extended. Add to that the confirmed arrival of McCormack and competition is for midfield positions is perhaps even tougher than last year, raising concerns about Ferry's future.

Regardless of this, though, competition for places can only be a good thing for supporters. McCormack is by no means guaranteed a starting place and given the appointment of Risser as Captain, Smith's solid Pre-Season form and the experience of both Timlin and, should he stay, Ferry, competition for places is something Swindon's midfield will posess extensively this coming campaign.