YASER Kasim is still feeling the effects of his Asian Cup jaunt, according to Town boss Mark Cooper.

The Iraqi international had lost his place in the starting XI against Bradford City and Crewe, but with Swindon’s raft of injuries Kasim is now set to return against Gillingham tomorrow.

Cooper has no doubts his metronomic midfielder will return to top form, and is hoping the Iraqi’s spell on the sidelines will have helped to reach that end.

It seems to the staff at the County Ground that the intensity of the training regime Kasim and his Iraqi teammates endured whilst in Australia has had a lasting, detrimental, effect on the 23-year-old’s performances since his return.

“The thing with Yaser is he’s been away for a month and been worked to the ground in terms of the workload in training with Iraq,” Cooper told the local media.

“That’s the way they choose to do it. It was just constant training and running plus the games. I think it is going to have an effect. It was a mini pre-season for Yaser, with the games and the training, and it’s taken a little bit out of him.

“He’s been tired, he’s had a bug, he did alright against Crawley, played against Barnsley and did well, so we know what we’re going to get from Yaser.

“I thought in spells against Crawley he played well, I thought he played well when he came on, on Saturday, and calmed us down a little bit and kept the ball moving. I’m sure he’ll be ready.

“He’s had a little bit of a rest so hopefully he’ll be really fresh tomorrow. He’s a fantastic footballer when he’s fresh.”

The absences of Louis Thompson and Anton Rodgers, suspension of Jack Stephens, plus doubts over Ben Gladwin’s fitness, means Kasim will be required to perform a crucial role in the Robins’ midfield.

Cooper has backed Kasim to take on the defensive duties left by the likes of Thompson and Stephens.

“Yaser can play in that single, pivot role where he can cover across,” added the County Ground chief.

“He’ll be made aware of that for tomorrow night if he plays there. Massimo Luongo can do it as well, as he proved brilliantly against Port Vale.”