STRIKER Jonathan Obika is expected to be back in contention for tomorrow’s visit of Premier League side Swansea City.

The 25-year-old missed Swindon Town’s final game of their tour of Ireland and has also sat on the sidelines during the defeats to Reading and Woking in the last week.

However, it is not thought that Obika, who scored 12 goals for Town last season in all competitions, has picked up an injury but has been rested due to fatigue, with Town thought to have had triple training sessions during their time in Dublin.

Head coach Luke Williams says that it is nothing to be concerned about and that it is just precautionary to ensure Obika does not pick up an injury before the start of the new season, with the forward being vital to his plans.

“We’re still being very careful with Jon,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“(Jon) has shown some signs of fatigue and so on and we need to be careful to make sure, while we’re pushing them extremely hard at the moment, we don’t want to push them to the point where they break down because it is counter-productive.

“It’s fair to say that Jon is the only player we’ve got that we feel can really lead that line at the top end.

“I’m sure players would thrive playing alongside him but without Jon, we’re very weak at the top end.

“We’re being very careful with him. We don’t think that it’s anything serious and he’s working very hard physically but it’s just the kicking and the twisting and turning that we want to avoid at the minute.”

Despite what seemed like a gruelling pre-season camp in Ireland, Williams insists the days of Lou Macari, when players would be made to run to Barbury Castle in Wroughton as part of their summer training, are long gone.

Instead more focus is put on players being able to play at an intense level over a short period of time in order to change a game and play a more counter-attacking style.

“I think the game has changed,” he added.

“It is probably more explosive. It is not harder than the game has been before, it is not easier; it is different.

“I think the players now need to expel huge amounts of energy in a very short period of time.

“I think the days of footballers plodding very long distances have probably gone a little bit now.

“It is about being efficient and to really put down an explosive energy in a short space of time and that takes its toll on the body in a different way.

“We have got a sports scientist here and a physiotherapist who are constantly checking the players to see where they at physically and how likely they are to be injured if they continue.”

A SWINDON Town XI will travel to Hellenic League side Highworth Town on Thursday evening for a friendly (7.45pm).