SWINDON Town boss Richie Wellens felt let down by Keshi Anderson during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle and has subsequently called for honesty from his players with regards to their fitness levels.

Anderson, who missed Newport County’s visit to SN1 a fortnight ago because of a hamstring injury, appeared to be in discomfort 13 minutes into Town’s most recent League Two clash against Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims.

His all-action, energetic, traits vanished soon after his first-half knock – a low tempo run from the edge of Town’s 18-yard box to inside the visitors’ half prior to Eoin Doyle’s goal just before the break proved the pick of the 24-year-old’s moves.

But Wellens’ frustration regarding Anderson’s sub-standard levels of energy was highlighted no more so than on 50 minutes when Lloyd Isgrove’s dangerous cross from the byline on the right was met by no red shirt in Argyle’s penalty area.

That prompted Anderson’s substitution as Michael Doughty – another player that under-performed – came on with 34 minutes remaining.

Wellens said: “Keshi was the biggest disappointment for me on Saturday.

“I don’t think he was fit, again. Every time I looked at Keshi, I asked him if he was OK and he told me he was fine.

“Obviously he went down, and it was because of his other hamstring – he said he was fine then.

“At the start of the second half, there was an opportunity where we got the ball into the box and he could’ve sprinted onto it. But he didn’t.

“That told me he wasn’t fit.”

The Town boss advised players to follow Luke McCormick’s example to win his trust.

McCormick held a one-on-one conversation with Town goalkeeping coach Steve Mildenhall prior to kick-off to admit to his lack of confidence.

That revelation ultimately earned Steven Benda his first Football League start since moving to England from Germany 26 months ago.

Benda starred in goal, making two key saves either side of half-time to restrict Argyle to just one goal when it could’ve been more.

While McCormick might have lost his status as Wellens’ first-choice goalkeeper, the Town manager explained he can now 100 per cent trust every word the former Plymouth stopper says.

“I now know when Luke McCormick looks me in the eye and says he is fine, I can trust him,” said Wellens.

“I want players to be honest with me. Of course, I don’t want players to be injured, I want them to play.

“But you have to be 100 per cent to play. If you’re not, you’re letting your team-mates down, the supporters down and me down.

“For me, even though Keshi told me he was fit, I’m not so sure he was.”