Antoine van der Linden is desperate to repay Town for the loyalty they showed earlier this month.

The Dutch defender was the subject of an approach from an English club a few weeks ago but Colin Todd and his coaching team spurned their advances.

Van der Linden has taken time to settle at the County Ground and Town could easily have opted to make a fast buck on his move.

The former Sparta Rotterdam stopper said "I had a chance to go to another club but Swindon wouldn't let me leave.

"I was happy about that because I enjoy playing for Swindon. It's a good club with great potential."

Van der Linden admits Town have yet to see the best of him and has knuckled down in training to prove he is worth a starting spot.

His career in Wiltshire has had a stuttering start to it after picking up an injury during his debut against Southampton.

He limped off after only a few minutes and lost his place to Alan Reeves. The veteran had kept him out of the side ever since, until Tuesday night.

"I don't like spectating," he said. "I came here from Holland to play football. But sometimes you just have to wait for opportunities.

"When you're not in the side the worst thing you can do is sit and sulk. I worked hard in training and when I have been playing for the reserves just hoping to get my chance."

The defender was rewarded for his patience against Millwall on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately his failure to make a clearance lead up to the opening goal and took the edge off a bright display.

"It was great to be back in the starting line-up but I wasn't happy with that first goal," he said. "I heard a lot of good things about Millwall but I don't think they were the better side.

"They won the game 2-0 but I think we can take a lot of encouragement from that display up to Nottingham."

Whether he will get the nod from new boss Andy King is another matter.

Nobody can be assured of a place in the team, bar maybe keeper Bart Griemink.

Fellow defender Adam Willis said: "We all felt shocked when the manager told us he was leaving. I have been here three years now and seen three managers leave the club.

"We have to all start again now and look forward. Colin Todd came here with a big reputation, but that does not always get you places. Andy King has been a player at the highest level and I feel sure that he can get the lads going well."