HE has lifted the European Cup Winners Cup, starred in the Copa America and scored 72 Premiership goals but as far as Gus Poyet is concerned he still has it all to prove.

As a player, the Uruguayan could hold his own with some of the game's greats over the last decade but as he takes his first step into management, Poyet admits he is starting from scratch.

The former Chelsea and Real Zaragoza midfielder was unveiled as Dennis Wise's assistant at the County Ground yesterday and quickly urged everyone to forget his past successes.

For him this appointment is all about the future, as he looks to forge a new career for himself in the game he loves.

He said: "I have always wanted to be a coach and this is my best chance of learning and seeing whether I can do it.

"This is my first job on this side of football and I have got it all to prove. I am confident I can do it but the next few months will tell me more.

"I am stepping into the unknown. The first two years in any new career, and this is definitely a new career for me, are normally the most important.

"If I am not doing well here then maybe I will have to change professions."

Since leaving Spurs in 2005, Poyet, 38, has returned home to Uruguay where he has spent the last two years working for a football charity, but the lure of returning to the English game, and renewing his friendship with Wise, was too much to resist.

He said: "It was a big decision to return to Uruguay with my wife and two children and now we are crazy enough to return to England, and this weather.

"We have my wife to thank for me being here. She knew I wanted to get back into the game and this has been the best opportunity.

"I love the mentality in England, it is probably 10 years ahead of back home.

"The education system is also very good here so I think it was the best move all round. We will be looking for a house round here.

"Dennis, Gianfranco Zola, Dan Petrescu and myself all used to sit at the back of the Chelsea bus. We get on very well and so do our families.

"I have played in four different countries with a lot of different managers and I will try to take a bit from each.

"It is impossible to find the perfect manager and it is more important to look at the bad things you have seen and make sure you don't repeat that."

Despite a pre-season friendly appearance at the County Ground while at Spurs, Poyet admits he is very much in the dark about Swindon Town and League Two.

"We have got a lot of learning to do," he said. I am returning to Uruguay soon but I will be taking a few videos to study.

"Dennis will also be working hard and he knows more about management than I do, so I will be learning from him as well.

"We need players to work hard, like Dennis did, but we also need that quality in midfield and upfront because goals are crucial.

"We are not going to say we will get Division One football, by Christmas we should have a better idea of where we are."

As far as playing is concerned, Poyet will register as a player but having hung up his boots last year he admits he won't be in a rush to re-lace them.

He said: "Ideally I will stay this side of the touchline. If we get a lot of injuries then maybe I will have to play but I am registering just in case."