SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens believes his squad is more than capable of achieving promotion this season with the help of a few more fresh faces before the end of the window.

Wellens went on record following Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy defeat to West Brom under-21s as saying he was frustrated at the amount of time it had taken the club to pull the trigger on bringing in new players so far.

However, during Friday’s pre-match press conference, the Mancunian admitted his emotions had got the better of him at the time and he was immensely proud of what the club had achieved in his time as manager.

Speaking ahead of the League One opener against Rochdale, the ambitious boss pledged to give his all to the current crop but said a handful of new faces could be the spark required for a promotion push.

Wellens said: “I still believe that if we can get a few more players in then we will have a chance (at promotion).

“We have to be realistic though because of the opposition this year – it’s a lot tougher – but I have a lot of belief in the group of players that we’ve got.

“We just need the icing on the cake with a few more bodies.

“I need a boost in that way, and I’m fully aware that the players are looking around and thinking: ‘we’re just a couple short around here’.

“I know that once we bring those players in they will get the boost they need too.”

With six wins in the past six seasons on opening day – only Manchester City have a better record in the top four divisions of English football – Town have reason to be optimistic ahead of their clash with Rochdale.

And manager Wellens believes a winning start will not only set the squad up for the next game, but it may also act as a call to prospective players who may be considering a move to SN1 in the coming weeks.

Wellens said: “I just want a win against Rochdale.

“If we can do well in our first three or four games, the players who are out there might look at us as more of an attractive proposition.

“Players will wait and they’ll say: ‘they’ve got a chance of doing something this season’ because they want to be playing at the top of a division.

“So a bright start might help us in terms of getting a couple more in.”