Richie Wellens was keeping his cards close to his chest over the availability of his leading scorer Eoin Doyle for Saturday’s FA cup tie at Cheltenham Town.
Bradford City striker Doyle signed a season-long loan deal with Robins in the summer and he’s since found goals easy to come by, netting fourteen times and topping the League Two scoring charts by some distance from his closest rivals.
The Irishman’s blistering form has been a significant factor in Swindon’s excellent progress this campaign, but Wellens was giving nothing away on whether the deal with Bradford prevents him from playing on Saturday.
Speaking to the local press ahead of the clash, Wellens did confirm two of his six loan players had been cup-tied by their parent clubs. However, he opted to keep his opposite number Michael Duff guessing on who they might be by declining to reveal their names when asked.
Doyle was recently rewarded for his outstanding performances when named as one of four players nominated to win League Two’s Player of the Year award for October.
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Watch this space; it would be a big surprise if Doyle is allowed to play by Bradford, who travel to League One Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Many Bantams fans are increasingly feeling alarmed at the form of their striker in Wiltshire.
City are on the same number of points as Swindon having played a game less, and if Doyle’s goals prove to be the difference between the two sides in May, serious questions will be asked on why he was allowed to join a promotion rival for the season.
The fact Wellens is coy is not surprising; both clubs have yet to reveal whether there is a chance the striker will be recalled in January, and the deal has turned out to be one of the strangest of the summer.
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