DEFENDER Taylor Curran believes Swindon Town will be ‘a real contender to go up’ ahead of Saturday's opening League Two fixture against Scunthorpe United.

The 19-year-old has featured several times across a run of mixed pre-season results for Town, including against Swindon Supermarine, Salisbury and Manchester United U23 before being handed the captain’s armband from the start in Swindon’s midweek victory over Melksham Town.

And the former Southend United youngster has been impressed with what he has witnessed from Wellens’ new-look squad, calling the dynamic in the changing room “1000 times better than last year".

The teenage centre-back feels Town’s League Two opener can set the standard for what fans might be able to expect this season, and Curran is quietly confident his side can return from north Lincolnshire with three points under their belt.

Ahead of Town’s trip to Glanford Park, Curran said: “Saturday is massive – hopefully we can get the three points and put in a good performance away from home.

“If we do that, it would shape the season and lay a good foundation for what we want to do.

“Everything that we’ve worked on in pre-season, if we can go out and execute that on Saturday, it would be a great start.

“It won’t be an easy game, but we’ve 100 per cent got the boys to go out there and win the game, there’s no doubt in my mind.

“I think that we’re going to be a real contender to go up this year.”

Since arriving at the County Ground in January, Curran has been gradually introduced to what life as a Town player might entail.

Increased gym work, a tailored diet plan and more regular game time – albeit behind closed doors – will serve the teenager well when he is eventually given his chance to stake a first-team spot, which Curran hopes may come sooner rather than later.

Asked whether he feels he has become a better player since signing for Swindon, Curran said: “100 per cent. Fitter, stronger, sharper and better technically.

“I think my all-around game has improved from just constantly training with the first team for six months.

“It’s really shaped me into a much better player, and my confidence is a lot higher as well.

“Hopefully this is my breakthrough season and one where I start to establish myself in first-team football. Hopefully I can get a few appearances in cup games and then start pushing on and showing what I can do in the league.”