SWINDON Town midfielder Tom Smith says his injury couldn’t have come at a worse time having impressed on his first league start for the club.

With Yaser Kasim suspended, Smith, who has been with the club since a young boy, was handed his chance by head coach Luke Williams in their League One clash at home to Rochdale on October 18.

The 18-year-old had only made substitute appearances against Preston North End and Crewe Alexandra, scoring at Gresty Road, in the league prior to last week.

Smith had also been a second-half substitute in the EFL Cup tie at Queens Park Rangers this term before starting both Checkatrade Trophy matches.

However, Smith pulled up with what looked like cramp towards the end of the win over Rochdale and has since been diagnosed with a muscle tear, which prevented him from keeping his place on Saturday.

“(The timing) couldn’t be any worse after Tuesday’s game, to be honest,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“It was great to play, being in the starting line-up, but then to get the injury.

“It would have been nice to get some minutes (against) Walsall.

“It was a great moment (to make my full debut).

“I have been at the club since the age of eight and to start that game, in front of the home crowd, was almost a dream come true.

“I had a scan (on Friday). I thought it was the groin at first but I had the results back (on Saturday) and it’s a hip flexor injury.

“I have actually torn it, it’s not as bad as we (originally) thought it was.”

Smith is now expected to miss the trip to Scunthorpe United at the weekend as a result of the injury but hopes that his spell on the sidelines won’t be a lengthy one.

“It’s a low grade one, so it shouldn’t be too long,” he added.

“It’s about the recovery now.

“Maybe two weeks, three tops, but it is getting better every day so it shouldn’t take too long.”