Swindon Town’s 3-2 victory over Cheltenham Town on Saturday came with some unexpected changes, as both goalkeeper Jack Bycroft and striker Aaron Drinan were absent from the matchday squad.
Their exclusion left fans wondering, as both players had been regulars in recent line-ups.
Jack Bycroft, who had started Swindon’s first eight league games this season, was surprisingly omitted from the squad, with Redman Evans taking his place on the bench. Bycroft’s replacement between the posts, Dan Barden, has now conceded three goals in four matches since being brought into the side at Tranmere Rovers.
Head coach Mark Kennedy explained after the game that Bycroft’s absence was due to illness, despite his strong form in training. “Jack is unfortunately ill,” Kennedy confirmed. “He has trained all week, and actually trained really well, which is ironic given how well he has done. He’s been a real standout performer this week. We tried to give him as long as we could, and he was desperate to be involved, but in the end, he just wasn’t able to.”
Bycroft’s illness forced a late decision, with Kennedy and his team waiting until Saturday morning before ruling the goalkeeper out of the match.
Another surprise came with the absence of Aaron Drinan, who had started Swindon’s last three matches in League Two. Drinan, yet to score this season, had been expected to feature due to injuries to fellow forwards Kabongo Tshimanga and Harry Smith. However, a recent knock left him in too much discomfort to play.
Kennedy revealed that Drinan’s injury occurred either in the match against Harrogate or during the previous fixture against Carlisle. “Aaron Drinan got a kick against Harrogate, or possibly Carlisle, and it’s been troubling him. The 90 minutes have had a big impact on him,” Kennedy said. “He tried to train on Thursday and Friday, but it wasn’t to be.”
With Drinan sidelined, Danny Butterworth and then Botan Ameen stepped in to fill the gap up front.
Bycroft’s illness and Drinan’s injury highlight the unpredictable nature of squad management in football. Swindon’s ability to adapt, however, demonstrates their depth and resilience. As the season progresses, players like Bycroft and Drinan will be crucial to maintaining their push in the league, and Kennedy’s management of these absences could prove pivotal.