JOE Romanski is likely to end the season on loan at a National League club, with Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens keen to develop the teenager’s already impressive defensive attributes.

Wellens has been impressed by Romanski’s attributes since taking the Town hotseat in mid-November following the sacking of former manager Phil Brown.

Despite making eight appearances under Brown, the 18-year-old is yet to feature for the first-team since Wellens took charge.

Admitting that he is not prepared to play him in the first team at this moment in time, Wellens confirmed to the Advertiser that he is looking to send Town’s promising youngster on loan until the end of the season in the National League.

It is hoped that Romanski’s time away from Wiltshire will allow him the time on the pitch required to identify his preferred playing position – which Wellens believes will be left centre-half.

“I had a conversation with Joe (Romanski) because I don’t know what his best position is,” said Wellens.

“The only way that I’m going to find that out is by playing him week in and week out.

“Right now, I’m not prepared to put him in the first team to find out what his best position is – that would be wrongful of me.

“We’ll look to loan him out, we’ll get him on a recall so if we do need him then he is fit and ready to go.

“He’s got great attributes – he’s a quick and strong lad and plays left-sided which gives a team balance.

“If he can go somewhere and do well, that will be good. I’m targeting a conference level team for him.”

Romanski’s fellow academy graduate Scott Twine meanwhile is part of Wellens’ plan to push Town into the play-off frame.

Automatic promotion form is required by Town if they are to push for a top-seven spot, and Wellens believes Twine can benefit if he starts to adopt a versatile role between the wings and centre of the pitch.

Wellens explained: “Scott (Twine) is clever, but he needs to make sure that he understands the instruction that when he loses the ball he needs to be wide of the diamond.

“But when we’re on the ball, he doesn’t need to stay wide and instead needs to be in the box.

“He attracts the defenders eye-line and runs across people and gets in front of people to create chances.

“He nearly popped up for the winner on Saturday, it’s unlucky that the ball didn’t bounce for him.

“He is nowhere near the finished article physically, but he’s a great lad and wants to learn.

“We put him on at 2-1 because we didn’t need James Dunne. Dunne played great, but is he going to get us a goal? Maybe not.”