Swindon Town have brought in Peterborough United striker Kabongo Tshimanga on a season-long loan – what impact will he have on the attacking options?

Tshimanga arrives as a premiere National League goalscorer but as someone yet to replicate that in the EFL, something that he feels is down to the opportunities he has been given rather than to his own ability.

In theory, he rounds out a rather exciting quartet of strikers as he adds to Paul Glatzel, Harry Smith, and Aaron Drinan – three players who have all proved at various times in their careers that they can be a threat in front of goal.

(Image: Newsquest)

When talking about his own game, Tshimanga highlighted his movement as being a key asset, saying that he was a player with the “knack” to be in the right place at the right time.

Speaking to Liam Norcliffe of the Derbyshire Times who saw him play a lot for Chesterfield, he saw that as the main strength of his game: “Tshimanga is an 'off the shoulder' striker who will look to run in behind and stretch defences. At Chesterfield, he scored all different types of goals but I would describe him as someone who comes alive in the box and he is a good finisher. He won't get involved in too much outside of the area in terms of build-up play.”

Whilst Swindon knew they needed more depth up front, the signing has sparked discussions about how Mark Kennedy will use his strikers. Town have lined up in a 352 so far, which means at least two of them will have to be on the bench. This could give the option to mix and match who plays in the front two and have the possibility to impact games from the bench.

However, at Lincoln, Kennedy tended to favour a 343 system, something which was deployed at times in pre-season and it is possible that this signing could see that become an alternative plan. Whilst Tshimanga is a central striker, he has at times been used across the front line and he could feature alongside Paul Glatzel as the dual tens that Kennedy used at the LNER Stadium.

When Lincoln played with two players off of one striker, they tended to remain central, with one of the tens looking to play high and get beyond the main striker. With how Tshimanga plays, this could be a suitable role for him and free up Glatzel to get involved as a playmaker. This would also explain the pursuit of Gavin Kilkenny rather than a more natural mezzala, as he is more likely to be able to play in a double pivot.

There has been a suggestion with Tshimanga that he has struggled since having some injury problems back at Chesterfield. Speaking to him on Monday, he said that he felt his time back at Boreham Wood last season had helped blow off any remaining cobwebs and he had a very strong goal return again despite playing for a struggling team.

Norcliffe said of this: “I am surprised things haven't worked out for him so far in the EFL but perhaps the jump from the National League to League One was too big. He didn't look as sharp when he came back from a fractured leg and broken ankle and perhaps that impacted him psychologically as well as physically. If Swindon can create chances for him, I'd back him to put them away, but it depends on the type of service.”

And that will be the big question. Swindon now have a player proven to score a hatful of goals when the service is there, can they provide that?