SWINDON Town defender Taylor Curran says his teammates will show Chelsea’s under 21s what men’s football ‘is really like’ when the west London youth team visit’s the County Ground tonight.

Town are set to open their EFL Trophy campaign just four days after the start of the regular season kicked off with a 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

The 19-year-old defender watched on from the bench as his teammates produced two well-taken counter-attacking goals to emerge victorious on the opening day in north Lincolnshire.

Curran knows Chelsea are highly unlikely to pose similar threats to Town’s league opposition at the weekend, and says he is looking forward to introducing their technically-gifted counterparts to the physicality and pragmatism of first-team football.

He said: “The level of U23s that I’ve played against to Chelsea, the difference will be massive.

“They won’t be playing like a League Two side, they are going to want to pass the ball no matter what, and we’ve just got to try and keep the ball so they can’t do that.

“If we don’t then who knows what might happen.

“They’re at Chelsea, they’re technically unbelievable, otherwise they wouldn’t be there.

“If we show them what first-team level is really like, then I think we can win the game.”

And with manager Richie Wellens revealing he would be naming a heavily-rotated side for the controversial cup competition, Curran is hoping he can experience a professional start for the first time since joining.

He said: “I’d love to get some minutes on Tuesday. I think it would be good for the players on the bench and the guys who weren’t involved today.

“But each game is as important as the next, so you’ve got to field your strongest XI and see how well you can do in the cups as well.

“It’s a massive opportunity if I’m given the chance to play.

“It gives you a confidence boost that he (Wellens) has the faith to pick you in the starting XI.

“Even if I’m just around the squad, travelling and getting on the bench, and hopefully some appearances too, it’s all steps in the right direction.”