SWINDON Town technical director Sandro Di Michele has strongly suggested the club will not be taking up the option of bringing striker Luke Jephcott to the club permanently this month.

Jephcott was the club’s flagship signing on deadline day during the summer, with the 22-year-old arriving on a season-long loan from Plymouth Argyle.

That move also contained a clause in which Swindon could turn the loan into a permanent deal for a pre-agreed price during January.

It is currently unclear as to why Town do not want to tie the Welshman down long-term, but with Jephcott’s contract at Plymouth expiring in July and the player seemingly open to moving on, the Robins may just be waiting until they can pick him up on a free.

READ: Scott Lindsey clarifies Luke Jephcott deal after Neil Dewsnip's recall comments.

Speaking on Swindon Town Official Supporters Club’s Monday Night Panel earlier this week, Di Michele briefly fielded a question from a fan on Jephcott’s future.

Di Michele said: “Luke will be with us until the end of the season, that's the plan. We had the option to make it permanent, but I’m not sure we’re going to take that option now.”

Speaking just days before, Jephcott himself remained tight-lipped over his own future.

He said: “So far, it has been a good fit for me here. I’ve been enjoying my football here, playing.

“I just want to focus on playing, and then look at what happens at the end of the season.

“Personally, I’ve made lots of friends here. But one minute you’re here, and the next it can all change. As you get older, you learn that it’s just a part of the job.”

During his first half-season in Wiltshire, Jephcott has scored just five goals in 21 appearances and has often failed to have a real impact on games.

The 22-year-old conceded his stint at Swindon hasn’t been filled with as many goals as he would have liked but feels patience will reward him with more success before the end of the season.

Jephcott said: “I think there have been chances where I can show the best version of myself, and then there have been other games where it’s just gone differently to how we’ve expected the game to go.

“It’s been a bit up and down so far, but that’s due to how tough the games have been. I just need to carry on being patient and trust the people behind me. I know, at some point, a chance will come.

“Yes, we maybe haven’t created hundreds of opportunities like we would have wanted, but we’ve still created chances. It’s about being patient and waiting for the right time.”