PHYSICALITY is lacking from Scott Twine’s game, and Richie Wellens has challenged Town’s young striker to build some muscular presence during his time as a fringe player.

Twine played his first 90 minutes this season on Wednesday against Bristol Rovers as Town concluded their failed Leasing.com Trophy campaign by losing 1-0 against the Gas.

The 20-year-old, who penned a two-and-a-half-year deal at SN1 in February, linked up well with Adam May, Ellis Iandolo and debutant Harry Parsons at times during Town’s visit to the Memorial Stadium.

Twine’s multiple efforts inside the penalty area went without reward – his majority of shots trickled wide while others were blocked.

Wellens insists Twine’s positional play and movement could prevent opposition players from imposing their physicality.

“I would like his physicality element to come on a bit quicker than it is at the moment, but that is down to Scott himself,” said Wellens.

“I want his position and movement to be better, to take that physicality away from the game. Some days he gets it, some days he doesn’t.”

Loan stints at National League South club Chippenham Town and League of Ireland side Waterford following his graduation from Town’s academy two years ago aimed to develop the striker’s ability in a competitive environment.

A further loan spell isn’t an option for Wellens at this moment in time, with only four attacking players available to him following injuries to Lloyd Isgrove and Keshi Anderson.

He added: “Eoin Doyle, Jerry Yates, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Kaiyne Woolery are our only fit attacking players.

“We’ve got Lloyd Isgrove and Keshi Anderson out injured – we couldn’t afford to risk any of those attacking four on Wednesday.

“We can’t loan Scott (Twine) out at the moment. We’ve got so many attacking injuries that we can’t afford to let him go.

“I wanted him to grab a goal on Wednesday, and he was unlucky on a few occasions. When I look at him on the bench, he has got a goal or an assist in him.”