Players in dark over embargo - McEveley (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: Players in dark over embargo - McEveley

6:00am Thursday 8th November 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead

NO CLUE: Jay McEvelely

JAY McEveley has revealed that Swindon Town’s players were unaware the transfer embargo had been lifted from the club's shoulders in the build-up to the clash with Sheffield United on Tuesday night.

The left-back, one of the most consistent performers for the Robins in recent weeks, only found out about the news when the Advertiser asked him after the game whether manager Paolo Di Canio had seemed in an upbeat mood in the immediate hours prior to kick-off.

However, it was business as usual for Di Canio according to McEveley – who was happy to see Town finally given the all-clear to draft in new faces in their bid for a League One play-off place.

“I didn’t know that the embargo had been lifted, you just told me then,” he said.

“Nothing was different from the manager, we prepared the same way. Everything was down to a T with the details on the opponents, it was the same approach to the game in the dressing room at half-time and during the game so no, it was the same.

“No one knew.

“We’re thin at the minute, we’ve got a few injuries and you can see you need a big squad in this league. Because there’s lots of games, injuries and suspensions can happen and you need to be able to chop and change.

“You need to be able to give people a rest so it’s nice that it’s been lifted and now we know we can bring a few in.”

Meanwhile, McEveley said that he was pleased with his recent displays, with the exception of a nightmare 90 minutes against Scunthorpe last month.

The former Derby and Blackburn defender was honest in admitting that there are a handful of areas of his game – notably his delivery in opposition territory – that need improving, but overall he has been satisfied with his work this term.

He said: “I have (been pleased), apart from the Scunthorpe game when I didn’t know what was going on on the day.

“It baffled me to be honest, I was trying five-yard passes and it was running out of play. It was one of those games and I had to put it behind me.

“When I go out I just want to make sure I’m giving 100 per cent and hopefully things can happen, I can create chances.

“I’ve been happy with my performances of late but hopefully there’s a bit more to come from me in terms of quality in the final third, crossing, making a couple of chances for the strikers to score goals for the team.

“I know if I don’t perform it won’t matter that I’m the only fit left-back. I know the gaffer will change it. You saw at Stevenage he put Joe at left-back and Joe did a good job there. He knows he can change it and he knows other players can do a job there, so I’ve got to make sure I’m on it every game and every training session to keep a place in the team.”