Ian Holloway said that the future of Swindon Town is bright following the eye-catching performances of some of its academy players.

Following an exciting year at under-18 level for the academy, there have been plenty more reasons to be cheerful about homegrown talent at the club with Botan Ameen impressing at the professional level, along with Joel McGregor and Harrison Minturn taking big strides early in their careers.

Ant McCormick and Owen Foye were both handed their first senior appearances for the final Bristol Street Motors Trophy group match against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s on Tuesday.

Holloway said that having seen how the homegrown players have taken to senior football in his first two weeks with the club, he sees the future of the club as being exciting.

He said: “I couldn’t have taken those three [Ryan Delaney, Grant Hall, Jeff King] off at half-time, because I would have looked mad so I decided to put the young lad in [McCormick].

“He was brilliant and his family came along for his debut, I didn’t even care whether he had played before because what I saw on Tuesday night [in the FA Youth Cup], I thought he could do it no problem.

“Half of the problem is that you doubt somebody if you doubt whether a young kid is ready yet; I didn’t doubt them at all, I believed that they would come smashing through and if they get something wrong then I would protect them as much as I can.

“Do it. Review it. Redo it. That is the whole thing and I don’t care how young you are, it is how much do you want it.

“Watching their interviews before the game with Owen and their family coming, I had tears in my eyes and the missus was loving it.

“That is the future of the club and I think that the future is bright.”

Holloway said that he would like to get a team together which understands what it means to play for the club and having academy players progressing through was a big part of that.

He said: “I want to try and entertain you [the fans] with what my team is doing and I want you to be part of that to help them.

“I want some young lads in my team from around this area because they give you that extra oomph – I don’t know what other word to use.

“Your whole family is feeling that performance, that is what life is all about and that is how it goes through your veins.

“Someone who hasn’t got that feeling shouldn’t be playing, not in my opinion, and if they aren’t from here then I will make them understand what it means and that is what they should show.

“There is a balance of skill and will – what team do you want? The most skilful one or the most willful one? I know what I am after. A bit of both, really, but will and drive is what makes a team win.”