Swindon Town welcome back club captain Ollie Clarke for Tuesday’s trip to Notts County following a seven-match ban.

The 33-year-old was suspended by the FA for committing “highly violating and intentional foul play” on two opponents’ “private body parts” in Swindon’s 2-1 defeat by Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup back in August.

Clarke has not appeared for Swindon since scoring in the 3-0 victory at Bristol Rovers on 13 December – at which point the Robins were sat inside the automatic promotion places.

But a recent slump, including back-to-back league defeats, now leaves them sixth in League Two.

During his pre-match press conference, manager Ian Holloway expressed his delight in having his captain back available.

“He’s a good player – I’m delighted to have him back,” Holloway told BBC Radio Wiltshire.

“It’s a difficult thing to take in really, to be honest, but you’ve just got to get on with it.

“He’s totally and utterly competitive and he makes us more competitive. He makes us a better team all round. He wants us to win and he helps us win.”

Meanwhile, Holloway refused to comment on whether he was looking to add a new left-back before the transfer window closes next Monday night.

Finley Munroe, who had made 23 starts, was recalled by Aston Villa at the start of the month before he was sold to Championship club Middlesbrough.

“That’s all a bit private. If I do something, I do something; if I don’t, I don’t,” Holloway added.

“We’re running out of time. Are we in a place to move? Yes, we are. Where we’re moving to, I’m not sure yet, but it might be somewhere.

“We’re in a really good place. I’m being supported [by the chairman] like I’ve never been supported in my life before and I believe we’ll have a chance to have a really good run-in.”