PAOLO Di Canio wants Billy Bodin to return to Swindon when his loan spell at Torquay ends in January.

Wales Under-21 international Bodin has been at the Gulls since August and has become an important part of Martin Ling’s team.

The 19-year-old is due to return to the County Ground on January 8 and Torquay are keen to arrange an extension to his deal that will see him remain at Plainmoor until the end of the season.

However, interim chairman Jeremy Wray has confirmed that Di Canio is keen to have another look at Bodin, who made three starts under the Italian at the start of the season.

“Billy is very highly rated and he has done very well during his time at Torquay,” Wray told the Advertiser.

“Paolo wants to look at him in January. He has been monitoring his progress while he has been at Torquay and wants to look at him at the end of his loan spell.

“There have been a lot of changes at the club while he has been away so we will look at the situation when he returns.”

It is likely that Bodin will return to Swindon for a couple of weeks before Di Canio makes a decision on whether to keep him at the club, or let him to return to Torquay on loan.

Last week, Ling confirmed he would love to keep Bodin at the Devonshire club for as long as possible.

“He's Swindon's player and Swindon have got to make that decision and we'll have to assess that nearer the time,” said the former Town midfielder.

"They know that I would love to keep him until the end of the season and even possibly take him full time."

Ling added: "He's a big product for us. We'd love to keep him about us because he's had a successful time.

"He's been a regular here at 19, and I think sometimes when you've been a regular you want to stay a regular and I think Bill would like to stay as well.”