SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens will give his academy graduates a chance to stake their claim during pre-season.

Luke Haines, Archie Matthews, Jacob Bancroft and Ralph Graham all signed their first professional contracts at the end of last season after impressing through the youth ranks at the Energy Check County Ground.

Wellens says the large volume of trialists he has been casting an eye over has restricted the game time afforded to the quartet during the side’s pre-season friendlies so far, although the Town boss is keen to rectify that.

Including their youth promotions, seven summer signings has taken the number of players at Town with first-team contracts to 26, although Wellens has previously stated his desire to offload at least two players.

The 39-year-old is therefore still keen to bring in additional new recruits and hopes they can be of the same quality as those already acquired.

“I would like to give the first-year pros a bit more game time, but with the amount of trialists we have had, it’s been difficult to do that,” said Wellens.

“I am happy with the 13 or 14 bodies I have got, but if I take away the first-year pros, we do need to add a couple more to make the group a bit bulkier.

“The quality from our signed players is looking really positive. I’ve seen a load of positives from them.

“The likes of Zeki Fryers, Tyler Reid and Dan Ballard – they are proper players and you can see the difference in quality.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea under 21s have been drawn into Town's EFL Trophy group for the coming season.

The invited side will travel to the County Ground as well as making trips to Bristol Rovers' Memorial Stadium and Plymouth Argyle's Home Park - Town's other Group F opposition.