Nicolau can find the net

With new loan signing from Swindon, Nicky Nicolau, expected to play a part in this aftenoon's game at Grays Athletic, below is a report featuring Nicolau. Although he isn't regarded as a goal scorer, he recently scored a peach for Swindon against Bournemouth in a reserve match.

This edited article first appeared on This is Swindon Town on January 11th:

Nicky Nicolau blasted home a peach against the Cherries and immediately pointed to Andy Nicholas as proof that light does shine at the end of the tunnel.

The youngster's 20-yard strike ensured a share of the spoils in the reserves' 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the County Ground.

Brett Pitman bundled home a late leveller to deny Nicolau the title of match-winner but the ex-Southend United man was still smiling at the end.

Injuries, the emergence of David Stroud and the imminent arrival of Aaron Brown have placed obstacles in Nicolau's path to first-team football but he isn't disheartened.

He enjoyed 90 minutes at left-back against Bournemouth and then highlighted the present occupant of that slot at first-team level as an example of how your fortunes can change.

Nicolau said: "Hopefully getting a game and a goal pushes me forward a bit.

"The boys are obviously doing well but if I get my chance then hopefully I'll take it.

"It's hard not being involved on a Saturday but there's still 20 or so games left and I want to get in there and make an impact.

"When I first came to the club I remember having a chat with Andy Nicholas.

"He was frustrated at not playing but he's got his chance and he's taken it well to be fair to him.

"They say football's a funny game. One week you're not involved and the next you can be man of the match."

Assistant boss Alan Reeves said: "That's Nicky?s first game for a while, he got a good workout from it, scored a good goal but it will take a couple of games to get back into the swing of things."

Nicolau had helped Town off to a good start when he picked up the ball just outside the Bournemouth area, looked up and rifled a strike beyond the left arm of visiting keeper James Rae into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Lukas Jutkiewicz rifled a shot into the side-netting on 42 minutes while Nicolau's inswinging corner from the right was headed off the line.
As well as a hernia Nicolau recently had a knee injury.

---