Swindon Town defender Kevin Amankwaah admits his exclusion from the side earlier in the season has made him even more determined to capitalise on his latest chance.

Amankwaah endured a two-month hiatus during the latter days of former manager Maurice Malpas' reign, following a horror display against Huddersfield in October.

He returned just before Christmas with a number of fleeting appearances as a substitute, but has since been thrust back into the limelight following the arrival of his former Bristol City boss Danny Wilson.

Amankwaah admits that 'poor form' as he struggled to settle in during the early stages of his County Ground career meant that his exclusion may have been deserved – but the marauding full-back is happier with life now after starting the last three games.

Two of those appearances have been in his preferred position of right-back – due to the absence of flu victim Jack Smith – and he is hoping that a marked improvement in his performances and a goal during Town's recent mini-revival will herald a new era of regularly being in the side.

"I am happy enough with how things have been going in the last few games," said Amankwaah, who has clocked up just nine appearances since his summer move from Swansea.

"Some players find it quite easy to settle in when they arrive at a new club, but it has taken me a bit of time.

"I think that period may be coming to an end now and I just want to push on from here.

"I was probably in a bit of poor form when I first got here, but now I am confident that the fans will start to see the best of me.

"Coming out of the side and watching from the sidelines was certainly frustrating. We were on a bad run of results, so the manager at the time (Malpas) was trying lots of different things to try and put things right.

"You do understand that, even though as a player it can be frustrating when you are a victim of those changes.

"I have just had to sit and wait for my turn and now that I have my chance I am more determined to take it."

Amankwaah admits that linking-up with Wilson again – following his appointment to succeed Malpas on Boxing Day – has played a part in his recent return to form.

The last two games have also suggested that Wilson is starting to have a positive effect on the team in general after a haul of four points from a couple of tricky-looking encounters.

"There has been a more positive vibe around the club," Amankwaah explained.

"The arrival of a couple of new players during the transfer window has also freshened things up.

"I think the last two performances have shown what we are capable of doing and now we have to maintain that standard consistently."

Town will look to extend their unbeaten run to three games – if their match with Southend at the County Ground gets the go-ahead.

Manager Wilson was out on the pitch as part of the snow clear-up operation that took place yesterday afternoon and is hoping to get the chance to see his side improve on a home record of only four wins in 14 attempts this season.

"It is becoming harder and harder to win games at home and that is the same for teams up and down the country," Wilson said. "I think it is because of the way teams set themselves up when they play away from home.

"There is less emphasis on opening themselves up and the onus is always on the home side. It can be difficult to do that when you haven't got a bit of craft or guile to do that.

"Away teams are usually content to get men behind the ball and hope that they get a break through a set-piece or a rare counter-attack.

"You can't blame teams or managers for employing that sort of gameplan, but it would be boring as hell if every team came here with no attacking ambition whatsoever."

Swindon Town (from): Brezovan, P Smith, J Smith, Amankwaah, Greer, Ifil, Kanyuka, Vincent, Jean-Francois, McNamee, Robson-Kanu, Easton, Allen, Timlin, Nalis, McGovern, Cox, Paynter, Razak, Sturrock.