PLAYERS of Matt Taylor’s experience and professionalism are worth their weight in gold in the Swindon Town squad, according to manager David Flitcroft.

Left-back Taylor, who turned 36 late last year, has netted spectacular efforts in each of Town’s last two matches but the former Portsmouth and West Ham United player adds much greater value than just goalscoring exploits.

Fellow defenders Ben Purkiss and Chris Robertson, as well as January recruit Marc Richards in attack, join Taylor as the over-30s in the Swindon squad, meaning they have plenty of wise old heads who have seen it all before.

After a stint out of the side around the turn of the year, Taylor has flourished on his return to prominence in recent weeks and Flitcroft feels it is not just during matches that he is helping to galvanise Swindon’s promotion challenge out of League Two.

“I think he has been influential on and off the pitch,” said Flitcroft.

“We went with Ellis Iandolo when we changed the system with wing-backs but then Ellis needed taking out of the team and Matt stepped up and he has been really influential.

“For me, the test of any player is when they are not in the team. It is easy when you are in the team and it is winning, but when you aren’t, it is about sticking at the task, doing all your fitness work and motivating yourself every day.

“Matt epitomises that in his support and it is a bit like what James Dunne is doing at the moment. He is off the pitch but he is absolutely phenomenal in his effort to keep driving the boys and influencing it.

“That is what good leadership is about and I have been able to bring that to the club.

“We have got it with Ben Purkiss, Marc Richards, Matt and James. They are good characters and it is important you have that at any club.”

Flitcroft believes that sense of collective is imperative to any side’s chances of success so even if a player is feeling aggrieved about their role within the squad, it would be short-sighted to only think about themselves.

“You can’t get disappointed in football, your career is too short. You have only got maybe 12 or 14 years and then your football career is over,” said Flitcroft.

“You might as well throw everything you can into it and support every effort. You are going to get setbacks and it’s about how you react and how you carry yourself in those moments.

“As a player, I was left out of the team but I always supported the younger and senior players. One thing that means more to me than anything is team work and team ethic.

“You have got to value your part and modern-day football is about the squad and everyone has got to be pushing towards the same objective and we are trying to do that.”