LEE Holmes would love to make his temporary switch to Swindon a permanent one in the summer, but is focused solely on doing what he can to help the Robins seal promotion back to League One.

The 24-year-old winger joined on loan until the end of the season from Southampton on Wednesday and is available for selection for tomorrow’s trip to Crewe.

Holmes spent three months at the County Ground back when he was 17 and thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club, and he admitted that played a big part in his decision to join the Robins.

“I am really excited about the couple of months ahead and hopefully I can do well,” he said. “A massive factor for me coming here is that I really enjoyed my time here before.

“The fans were great to me and that swayed the decision for me to come here really. It (a permanent deal) is something that I would like to have if Swindon will have me.

“At the moment I have signed until the end of the season, but there have been little bits of things spoken about.

“Nothing has been agreed or signed though so as far as I can say at the moment it is until the end of the season.”

Holmes’ was touted as being one of the brightest prospects in the lower leagues but had his progression curtailed somewhat by a number of injuries.

However, the former Derby trainee has had no issues all season and he is confident that his injury concerns are now firmly behind him.

“Getting yourself in a position where you are out for six months never helps,” he added. “I was unfortunate to pick up that injury but the medical staff at Southampton were awesome and the surgeon was incredible.

“I have been fit for the whole season and I feel that I am back to my best. I don’t even have a recollection of feeling the injury from before.

“It is not a problem and I have been pleased with every game I have been able to play in this season and get through them with flying colours. I am fighting fit and ready to go.

“I don’t feel the injury has held me back at all in terms of what I can achieve in the future.”

Holmes enjoyed a successful spell on loan at Town’s fierce rivals Oxford recently, meaning that there are no questions marks over his match fitness and he could be in contention for a start tomorrow.

However, he is competing with Matt Ritchie and Luke Rooney for a place on the wing, and he knows he cannot take a place in the side for granted.

“Luke and Matt have done really well, there is no question about that,” he said. “Just how good the wingers are here shows with Matty getting the Player of the Year award, which is obviously a great achievement.

“I am here to add competition and play as well as I possibly can and hopefully push them as close as I can.”

Having grown accustomed to League Two football thanks to his spell at Oxford, Holmes knows roughly what to expect from Crewe tomorrow.

The Railywaymen did not start the season particularly well but have improved recently and take on Swindon looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

“They are doing well as a young side,” said Holmes. “But in the position we are in we would expect to be able to go there, be dominant with the ball and hopefully come away with the three points.”

With the trip to Wembley approaching, Di Canio will want his side to make sure they pick up maximum points from tomorrow’s game and Tuesday’s fixture with Torquay.

Town beat Crewe 3-0 on the opening day of the season but the scoreline was a little unfair on the visitors, who had the better of the first-half chances.

“From that first game I realised that they are a very good team,” said Di Canio.

“I was surprised for a long time during the season that they were in an anonymous position, but they are very close to the play-off positions now.

“They are a side who try to play football and I like the way they play. They have not changed a great deal since we last met, maybe just one or two players.

“They have young, fresh players with quick feet. They don’t really have a big physical presence apart from the two centre-halves.

“They have a very talented midfield and it will be an interesting game. They are in good form, even if they have not won lots of games recently.

“They are a team who can score plenty of goals, but they can also concede lots of goals, so it will be interesting to play against them and I am looking forward to it.”