Swindon Town: Luke Williams bemoans loan departures

Luke Williams (right) has taken over as manager since the departure of Martin Ling

Swindon Town caretaker boss Luke Williams has bemoaned the return of key loan players to their parent clubs.

Defender Kevin Stewart's recall by injury-hit Liverpool comes on top of Ben Gladwin, Adam El-Abd, Wes Thomas, Louis Thompson and Henrik Ojamaa having all left the County Ground too.

"All the clubs are looking at their own players," Williams told BBC Wiltshire.

"It's not always possible to know what is going on with a player until we have a definitive answer from the club."

El-Abd, 31, played 14 games for Swindon and Williams says he will be a big loss to the squad.

"It's a huge miss because he is a winner and he has given us some steel and helped us hugely to go on a run of results to get us closer to safety," he said.

"It's very difficult to replace that experience but we have to trust the players we have. This is a chance for players to learn on the job and fulfil the potential."

Gladwin, 23, has returned to QPR and Williams said he would be surprised if the midfielder was allowed back to Swindon.

"I'd like to say yes, but if I was QPR, or a number of other clubs, I'd be looking at Ben," he continued.

"QPR may decide they want to keep him or want him to go to a club where he is going to be pushed more. I'm not holding my breath on that one."

Williams is hopeful though that midfielder Thompson, 21, will return from Norwich for a second spell.

"I'm desperately hoping (he returns) because he is everything you want in a player," he added. "I feel he gets better each week, he is so driven and committed."