JORDAN Turnbull paid tribute to the support he has received from Swindon Town captain Nathan Thompson after emerging from his Football League debut with a win.

Turnbull, a product of the Town youth development system, arrived on a season-long youth loan from Southampton last week and was immediately tasked with keeping experienced Scunthorpe United strikers Paddy Madden and Deon Burton quiet in Swindon’s League One opener on Saturday.

Following the 3-1 victory, the teenager thanked Thompson for his help on and off the pitch, as he eases himself into life in Wiltshire.

“Nathan is the captain and he’s got a lot of experience. Knowing Nathan previously helps and we’ve got a good relationship. He was great on the pitch. Vocally, he was very loud and he helped me out a lot,” he said.

“Swindon is a great club. They try to play with the ball, keep the ball and keep it moving. It’s great for me playing in a team like that.

“I think it’s great to come back to the club where it all started out for me. Nathan and Louis, who I knew before, have helped me settle in. The lads have been welcoming and the staff have been great with me. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.

“I think it was great to make my league debut and most importantly the win was a great win. The lads played really well. Playing in an atmosphere, in a stadium in front of the crowd, was great for me and I’m proper happy with the win.

“We went into the half on a high and we stuck at it, played very well in the second half and got the win.

“It is a bit different. The players are a lot more physical in this league.

“Playing in front of a crowd comes into it and when points are at stake you have to put more effort in and I think we did that today.”

Of playing against the likes of Madden and Burton, Turnbull said: “It’s a great experience to play against good players like that.

“You have to keep doing what you’ve been taught to do on the pitch and I think I’ll progress as the season come on.”