Swindon Town have added another defensive option with the loan signing of Sheffield United’s Miguel Freckleton, what will they be hoping to get from the defender?

Freckleton has become Swindon’s first loan signing of the summer and makes the step up having had spells in the National League with Wealdstone, Yeovil Town, and Chesterfield, where despite having some injury struggles, he helped the Spieites to the league title last season.

At six-foot-three, the defender started his career in the academy at Bristol Rovers but left for Brammall Lane in 2021 on a two-and-a-half-year deal which was then extended this summer amid interest from Rovers to bring him back alongside Wycombe Wanderers, Bradford City, and Doncaster Rovers – according to James Piercy of Bristol Live.

He becomes Town’s third left-footed centre-back after Pharrell Johnson and Ryan Delaney, but it was the former Newport County man’s struggles that led to the move happening when it did, according to Marcus Bignot, who said that Delaney will not be ready for the opening day.

Freckleton played at both left-back and centre-back with Chesterfield, often both positions in one game with how Paul Cook’s side set-up, and Liam Norcliffe of the Derbyshire Times thinks he could be well suited at Swindon.

He said: “I think long-term his best position will be left centre-back when he reaches his maximum physical ability but he also showed he could do a job at left-back as well, particularly away from home when you might want a more defensive option rather than an attacking full-back.

“He's more of a modern defender who likes to try to bring the ball out of defence. He's also very quick. I think that [on the left side of Swindon’s back three] could be the perfect position for him for now. At times last season, Chesterfield would roll into a back three when in possession and Freckleton would tuck inside from left-back. He would have racked up more appearances [for Chesterfield] had he not missed January to March with a recurring hamstring injury. ”

His ability to play in both positions will help Swindon as he will be able to step forward when the opportunity presents itself and contribute with the ball, which is something he was able to do for the Spireites. His overall heatmap shows he was happy to get down the left, and got two assists from his 0.7 key passes per 90 minutes.

Bignot added that he felt Freckleton has the full defensive package with his combination of size, speed, and ability to play, which was honed by having been a midfielder whilst he was with Bristol Rovers.

He said: “Miguel is going to be a really good addition for us. [He is] left-footed, quick, he can play, and he can defend – so we are excited by him.”

The defender came straight in to start ahead of Pharrell Johnson against Eastleigh and looks to be in pole position to start against his former club on the opening day of the season on the left with Delaney yet to feature in pre-season.

Norcliffe said that he felt his physical attributes were his biggest asset as a player and this will be useful alongside Grant Hall, who has the experience to help him but also can be safe in the knowledge that the defender has the legs to cover him, as he did on a couple of occasions at the Silverlake Stadium on Sunday.

Delaney seems to be the first choice in that position when fit, but Freckleton will add some much-needed competition at the very least and could even make Mark Kennedy’s life quite difficult if he impresses whilst the Irish defender works his way to full fitness.