After a run of one goal in five games and with teams doubling up on Aaron Drinan, Swindon are in need of a spark in attack. Ian Holloway admitted that if teams sit in against them, then they are having issues breaking them down.

As outlined in a piece this week, Town have had particular issues finding creativity in central areas. The present midfield trio of Jack Thomson, Anthony Munda, and Ollie Clarke are all performing their roles to a high level, but none has the guile to become a threat in the final third, and this has limited the team.

The return of Joseph Hungbo this weekend will make a big difference, as his mercurial blend of driving at defences and willingness to gets shots and crosses off changes the calculus in attack. But he remains unlikely to be able to play for 90 minutes, and Swindon still need to do more than just rely on two attackers.

One thing that Holloway highlighted after the defeat to Crewe Alexandra was that they were not getting enough bodies into the box to attack crosses, making them too easy to defend. Of their selection of midfielders, Virtue is a player who thrives on making third-man runs into the penalty area and be a presence in the area.

Whilst it was possibly the definitive 50p-header, Virtue displayed this in his cameo last week, and the 19 goals he notched for Fleetwood Town demonstrates that he gets into those areas.

He said: “I like arriving in the box; when the ball is wide, I want to make runs into the box – a bit similar to Skip [Ollie Clarke]. Hopefully, if I am getting in there, then the ball will come my way and I can chip in.”

Matty Virtue creates Swindon Town's first goal of the season (Image: Carlos Green)

Watching the former Lincoln City man this season, he has been able to ghost into advanced positions, most notably to set up the opening goal against Cardiff City.

Whilst he has the ability to sniff out goals, Virtue is not the most creative player, and shown so far that he prefers to make off-balls runs than get on it himself. Someone who could offer that element is Pearman.

The 20-year-old has yet to make his mark at Swindon, having not played a second of league football since August, and Holloway said that he is still trying to integrate him into the squad. But he thrives on the exact spaces that Town are not getting into right now.

During his breakout season with Perth Glory, you could always find him in the pocket between midfield and defence. These are positions that nobody else is taking up right now, and by him merely being there, it will drag the opposition defence around, and free up space for Drinan.

Jaylan Peaman likes finding pockets between defence and midfield (Image: YouTube, A-Leagues)

The Australian has impressed Holloway this week, he said: “This is what they've got to deal with. People like Pearman are a perfect example of come on, has it gone right yet? Should that matter? He's trained really well the last two days.”

Unlike Virtue, Pearman is at his most dangerous outside the box, looking to utilise his tremendous ball-striking technique to get shots off and play passes into space for others to run onto.

Swindon have tended to play a 4-2-3-1 this season, but normally with Clarke as the attacking midfielder, predominantly placed there for his desire to press from the front. Pearman would offer the skillset of a more natural number ten, whilst Virtue could present another goal threat if Holloway wants to lean on crossing, and is also a very adept presser.