Dan Barden is desperate to make up for lost time after his Swindon Town debut, following a deadline day season long loan move from Norwich City.

The young keeper was diagnosed with cancer after his breakthrough spell in the Canaries’ 2019/20 Championship title win, and then sidelined for another 12 months after suffering an ACL knee injury.

Now the 23-year-old just wants to prove he can cut it in the Football League, after making his Robins’ debut in a midweek EFL Trophy defeat at Exeter.

“I’d like to hopefully get playing in the league. I’ve missed a lot of football in the past 12 months so that has to be the main target,” he said, interviewed by the Robins’ Youtube channel. “I was out with an ACL last season, and I have fully recovered from that. It took a long time but I feel as fit as I can be.

"No player likes being injured, especially one of that nature, so I am thankful for the all the support I got from the physios and medical staff at Norwich. With the surgeons as well, they made it as routine as possible. It takes a lot of work in the gym to build things back up and when you get back on the pitch it is a great feeling.  

“I’m really excited. It happened quite quickly. I only probably found out the day before (deadline day) when I got a call from my goalkeeping coach at Norwich who said Swindon were interested. Where I was at the end of the transfer window it was a move that made sense to come and be part of the team.

“It was an opportunity, speaking to the manager and the keeper coach here, for a chance to get myself back playing in league football, playing games and pushing for the number one. It was made clear that the club wanted me to be here and be part of it. Any player will tell you they want to feel wanted.

“I know only one (keeper) can play so I want to be a good member of the group, train well, and support each other and if my opportunities come up I need to take them.”

Barden, who signed a longer term Carrow Road deal at the end of last season, first came to prominence under Daniel Farke following injuries to senior keepers Tim Krul and Michael McGovern, but the former Welsh-Under 21 international has experienced the tougher side of the game, and life, since then.

“To be part of a team that was successful and I came in and did well in the games I was thankful to the staff and the players who helped me through that,” he said. “I’ve been on a few loans since then and you learn different things. From the National League and then going to Scotland. Very different type of football.

"I'm feeling physically fit now, I've come back from an ACL injury last season, which happened when I was out on loan. I'm feeling good now, really fit, and ready to keep playing.

"Cancer is a real perspective changer. It was a big change for me when I was young, and I had to get used to that when I was young.

"That perspective you gain from being in a tough situation, I try to use it in my football now. I get less angry and it's nice to have those reality checks."

Robins' boss, Mark Kennedy, was delighted with Barden's midweek cup debut.

"Mildy (Steve Mildenhall, Swindon keeper coach) was a bit more reserved than me because I thought Dan did really well," he said, quoted by the Swindon Advertiser. 

"He made a couple of great saves, one you could argue was straight at him but he spread himself really well.

"We have done a lot of work on our build-ups, so for him to come in and show the character that he did where we are saying he has to play was great and was really important."