Sean McGurk should be playing for Swindon Town more regularly with the talent he has, according to new manager Ian Holloway.

The former Leeds United youngster has not started a league game all season, having dealt with injuries throughout pre-season leading to a slow start to the campaign under Mark Kennedy.

McGurk was introduced off the bench in the 72nd minute in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Colchester United and impressed Holloway with some of his skill.

The 21-year-old came off the bench and had a hand in Joel McGregor’s equaliser and also had the chance to win the game in stoppage time.

Speaking after the game, the new manager said he had been very excited by what he had seen from McGurk in training this week and wanted to know why he had not been involved more often.

He said: “The youth team played fearlessly the other night, they played in an aggressive style, they ran in behind, they didn’t worry about if it was a good or a bad ball, they just chased it, and they got on the end of it.

“They made it all exciting and I want our lads to feel that free and I think as the game went on, we did.

“I don’t think little McGurk could understand what on Earth I was saying to him because I said ‘I want you to go anywhere to get the ball.’

“He didn’t know what I meant and I told him ‘You can go anywhere, go and get it off our goalie, I don’t care, I want you to have a free role.’

“I still think he is shocked by that but that little fella's talent and some of the things he has done on the training ground are amazing.”

Holloway recounted the story of how he had asked McGurk on the training ground this week about why he had not been able to convert his talent into playing time.

He said: “I asked him why he wasn’t playing and he blamed someone else, so I grabbed him by the ears and said ‘No, you can’t be working hard enough. It is your fault, nobody else’s.’

“He has been out in the cold but I might need his skill here and there and he can do all sorts of things.

“We almost got one of the best goals I have ever seen down in the bottom corner with his feet – they don’t realise how good they are.”