Botan Ameen is looking to keep making his mark on the first team as he continues to impress for the Swindon Town under-18s.

The Iraq youth international opened the scoring at the Priestfield Stadium against Gillingham in the FA Youth Cup second round this week with a great strike from outside the box.

Ameen has had a taste of senior football, scoring in the Vertu Trophy and getting off the bench in League Two away at Cheltenham Town and he wants to keep having that impact.

He said: “I am so grateful to Woody [Sean Wood] and Kirk [McGinn] for helping me to progress and keeping me level-headed and reminding me to make an impact and a statement whenever I go up to the first team.

“Then at the same time, they have helped me to continue my progress coming back with the under-18s and continuing to stay humble.

“That is what is giving me that extra edge, making sure that my mentality doesn’t change when I go up with the first team, I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had and hopefully there are more to come.

“It is promising to be where I am but I don’t get too carried away, especially knowing that there is a good group of first-team players who are fighting for those spots.

“I feel like I am part of that competition and it pushes me on, I want to do well in the under-18s but it is always in the front of my mind that I want to be pushing on with the first team.”

Ameen was given a start against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the final Vertu Trophy group match by Ian Holloway and he has enjoyed learning from the experienced manager.

He said: “It is a different style under him, more direct than it was with Mark [Kennedy] but he is definitely a very experienced and good coach and manager to learn from.

“You get to know him quite well and he will always help you, he makes you very comfortable, even if you make a mistake he makes sure that you don’t feel too downhearted.

“He reminds you that after one chance there will always be a second one and a third.

“He has also got a lot of charisma, which I think is very important for a manager, he boosts the morale and it has been very good working with him.”