WEEKS of anticipation and build-up will conclude this afternoon when Swindon Town start their 2019-20 League Two campaign away at Scunthorpe United – and a win will mean more than just three points for manager Richie Wellens.

With just four attacking options in his squad – one of those being transfer listed Keshi Anderson – the Town boss has expressed his desire to add a proven goalscorer that can accompany top signing Jerry Yates.

Victory against the Iron will make Town a more attractive club to players currently weighing up their options with a month remaining until League Two’s deadline day, in the opinion of Wellens.

Therefore, making a strong start against Scunthorpe – generally priced 5/2 for promotion back into League One – will make life far easier for Wellens and Town director of football Paul Jewell.

Wellens said: “I want us to start as quickly as possible. If we get a good start then we will become more attractive to those one or two players that we are trying to get.

“I want us to continue what we started last season, but with a better mindset, a better squad in terms of technical ability and with better characters.

“We need to be and around the top 10 for the first 15 games, and then try and kick on from there.

“I want attractive football, like we played for the majority of last season – I can only remember two or three games where I was disappointed.

“I want more possession, more shots, more crosses and more goals. We want to be a team that can slow the game down and control the ball if we need to, but we also want to be exciting, positive and intense.

“We’re still a very good counter attacking team as well, and I want to see glimpses of that.”

Scunthorpe boast teenage talent Regan Slater in their midfield ranks as well as Andy Butler at the back.

Wellens has played against several of Paul Hurst’s first-team players, as well as managing against the majority of the Iron squad.

He’s tipped Hurst’s outfit to perform strongly this term – and expects them to be pushing for promotion.

He added: “It’s surprising they got relegated. Under Graham Alexander, it looked like they were going to go in the opposite direction.

“They’ve got a good squad. And I expect them to be up there with other relegated teams from League One.”