GEORGE Barker was drawn to the County Ground by the possibility of regular first-team football and the chance to team up with old friends.

Barker, who signed an 18-month contract with Swindon Town on Tuesday, knows several of the Robins’ squad and staff from his time at Brighton & Hove Albion and is excited about the prospect of resurrecting his career in Wiltshire.

The 22-year-old is close friends with Grant Hall, the on-loan Spurs defender, and assistant coach Luke Williams and sees Swindon as the perfect place to get the gametime he craves.

“I knew a bit about the club before I came here, it’s obviously got quite a good set-up and I can see the average age is quite young which is good for myself. I’m really pleased with what I’ve seen so far,” he told the local media this lunchtime.

“All the staff have been really good, all the players have been really welcoming so I’m really pleased with it.

“I’ve been in recent contact with Luke and a few of the players. Ever since Luke went from Brighton I’ve spoken to him on a regular basis and he’d say to me ‘what do you think about coming to Swindon’.

“I jumped at the chance to come here because the main thing I wanted to do was play games and I wasn’t doing that at Brighton so it’ll be a good chance.

“I was good friends with Grant at Brighton so to be around him again is good and there are a few Tottenham boys on loan. Because it’s such a young squad it’s good.”

Barker has been signed to fill the void left by Nicky Ajose upon the striker’s return to parent club Peterborough but he’s not daunted by the task of replacing Town’s top scorer.

“I’m here to give 100 per cent in whatever I do - training, games, whatever I do. The main thing is to play games. If I get the chance I’m going to take it with both hands,” he said.

“I’ve seen Nicky Ajose do well here, Range (Nile Ranger) has done well here so I’m just coming here to add something different to the team. I’m not really an out and out striker, I’m an attacking midfielder playing off the frontman.

“I’ve come here to do what I do best and that’s score goals and create goals and that’s the aim.”