Sketchy home record is worry for Swindon

ANDY Johnson will not be troubling Athletic's defence with his pace, cleverness and finishing ability tomorrow.

The QPR striker had been linked with a shock loan move to the County Ground in order to boost the promotion hopes of manager Kevin MacDonald and his men.

Johnson (32), with eight England caps and the experience of scoring Premier League goals for Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham under his belt, has been out with a knee injury since September and is on the comeback trail.

But even as Swindon awaited news on whether a transfer embargo was to be lifted by the Football League, a proposed loan deal has collapsed, leaving the Robins looking elsewhere for firepower.

Ironically, the one man whom outsiders point to as the club's major attacking threat, ex-Shrewsbury striker James Collins, is unable to break into the starting line-up at the moment despite hitting 16 goals this term.

And in this post-Paolo Di Canio era at the County Ground, Town are struggling slightly for inspiration at the moment.

A scoreless home draw with Notts County, a game watched by Athletic manager Lee Johnson, left the club five points adrift of npower League One front runners Doncaster.

Swindon have won only twice in their last seven fixtures and have failed to pick up wins in any of their last five home league fixtures.

That sequence includes a 1-0 defeat to Bury and a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool, both clubs firmly in the bottom four.

MacDonald is thought to have lined up three youngsters from Tottenham, including Cristian Ceballos and Dean Parrett, if the authorities allowed the club to sign players again before the close of play today.