THE physical nature of playing in League One appears to have taken its toll on a trio of Swindon Town’s loan stars ahead of this weekend’s game with Notts County.

Jordan Turnbull, Harry Toffolo and Amari’i Bell are all fighting to prove their fitness before Mark Cooper selects his side today.

The trio have all impressed since arriving at the County Ground, with Turnbull and Toffolo in particular being regular fixtures in Towns recent run of fine form that has seen them put pressure on league leaders Bristol City.

Toffolo was wide eyed when he walked into the press room after his first full start at the County Ground against Preston but since then has grown in stature making the left wing back role his own.

Meanwhile Turnbull has been an ever-present since joining from Southampton in the summer and boss Mark Cooper has enjoyed watching him and the other young players blossom.

However the difference in intensity between league football and the under 21 league they are used to with their parent clubs appears to be catching up with them despite the two week break they have enjoyed.

“These are young boys coming into a senior environment and having to play 10 or 11 games on the trot that they have not had to do before in a real tough environment, so maybe this couple of weeks off has been a blessing in disguise,” said Cooper.

“Going from under 21 football, where there is no so much pressure on them to get a result it is more about development and they come into our environment and it is obviously results based.

“There is that mental pressure and obviously the intensity of the games is a little bit higher so that puts more stress on them physically.

“I think they really enjoy it. They play in front of good crowds and they realise what it is to be coming home on the bus having got three points or lost three points and to know what is at stake.

“They come here and we try and get them to grow.”