Thomas relishing Robins challenge

WESLEY Thomas has a burning desire to prove himself at npower League Two level after spending last season in the shadows at Dagenham and Redbridge.

The Cheltenham Town striker was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Daggers won promotion to League One for the first time in their history via the play-offs.

The form of Paul Benson and Josh Scott, who netted 38 goals between them, restricted Thomas’ chances and forced him to look elsewhere at the end of the season, despite having another year on his contract with the Essex club.

Enfield-based Thomas has scored plenty of goals at non-League level, but like several other members of Mark Yates’ young Robins squad, he is champing at the bit for a chance to thrive in the Football League.

“It was hard for me last season because I didn’t get a chance to get into the Dagenham team,” said Thomas, who was loaned out to Rushden and Diamonds.

“The manager (John Still) stuck with Benson and Scott all season and they were key players in the team’s promotion, so it was hard for me, but this season I want to get my chance to show what I can really do.

“There was no point in me staying at Dagenham because I didn’t really get a chance in League Two, so I wasn’t going to get one in League One and it would have been even harder.

“The best thing for me to do was to come here to prove what I can really do at another team and thankfully the gaffer came in for me and gave me the opportunity to do it.”

Thomas has made an encouraging start to life at Cheltenham, scoring in the friendly wins over Cirencester Town and Gloucester City, and producing a particularly impressive display in the 0-0 home draw with Bristol Rovers.

The 23-year-old is not concerned Cheltenham failed to score in their final three first-team friendlies of the summer and is confident he will start to find the net on a regular basis, starting on Saturday at Gillingham.

“Everyone has bonded very well and we have played well in the games, so I think it’s been a decent pre-season,” said Thomas. “Against Rovers, I thought I was quite sharp and pre-season is just to get my fitness up really.

“You want to score to build your confidence.

“But mainly it’s about fitness levels and I am happy with the way things have gone.

“Hopefully the goals will now come, starting at Gillingham on Saturday.

“We have been making opportunities for ourselves and we just need to start putting them away now.”