KEEPING Swindon Town forward Jonathan Obika fit for the season is a massive priority for the medical team, says first team coach Ross Embleton.

The 25-year-old made his first appearance in more than two weeks for Town in their 3-0 defeat to Swansea City on Wednesday night.

Obika, who scored 12 league goals last term, has been plagued by injuries since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur two years ago.

The Town striker started last season in fine form, netting in each of the opening two games before an ankle injury picked up at Bury saw him miss a run of five games.

The same ankle injury hindered the forward later in the campaign and restricted the number of games he was available to head coach Luke Williams for.

Obika missed the final game of the tour of Ireland before sitting out defeats to Reading and Woking before playing little over an hour on Wednesday night.

While Obika was rested due to fatigue and not injury, Embleton is aware of the importance of keeping their star man fit, with options up front limited at this stage.

“Yes, if Jon pulls up it is a massive concern to everybody,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“Jon is a massive, massive part of what we do here, the way that we play and he carries the team forward.

“I think he gives a lot of the players and everybody involved that belief that we are going score at the other end.

“It is important. We need to make sure we tread carefully with Jon and make sure that his recovery processes after the games he plays in are really focused to make sure he is ready to train and ready to play in what is going to be a really intense season.”

Midfielder Conor Thomas was forced to watch from the stands on Wednesday night after failing a late fitness test.

However, the player has said that it was only precautionary and could be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to League Two side Yeovil Town.

“After the Woking game we had a couple of hard days and my hammys just stiffened up and hopefully in a couple of days I’ll be alright,” said Thomas.

Meanwhile, the extent of Raphael Branco’s groin injury sustained on Wednesday is yet to be revealed.