Exclusive: Swindon Town agree loan deal for Mansfield striker Tom Nichols | OneFootball

The striker is set to join Ian Holloway's League Two outfit

Swindon Town have agreed a loan switch with Mansfield Town for striker Tom Nichols, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The 31-year-old is set to make the temporary move to the County Ground in what is Ian Holloway's first opportunity to do business since his appointment at the League Two outfit in late October.

The Robins are still embroiled in the battle to avoid dropping into the National League alongside the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Harrogate Town, Morecambe and Carlisle United, but have enjoyed a relative upturn in fortunes of late, going unbeaten in their last three matches.

Meanwhile, since joining the Stags in February, Nichols has struggled for consistent minutes, particularly since Nigel Clough's side returned to League One, with his last appearance coming in a 2-0 win over Blackpool in October.

Holloway stated prior to the opening of the January transfer window that he was hopeful of bringing in at least two fresh faces to Swindon, and FLW can exclusively reveal that the Wiltshire outfit have agreed a loan move for the 31-year-old forward.

The fourth-tier outfit are yet to confirm any additions thus far, but are on the cusp of securing the temporary deal for Nichols, which comes months after Stags boss, Clough, revealed that he could have departed Field Mill on loan in the latter stages of the August window.

Mansfield have an abundance of striking options, and two in particular who have been extremely clinical in the opening 23 games of the Nottinghamshire side's third tier campaign, with Will Evans and Lee Gregory finding the back of the net 19 times between them.

As previously mentioned, Nichols has only made five league appearances for the club this term, despite accumulating three goals and as many assists in 18 games after joining from Gillingham 11 months ago as Mansfield were promoted from League Two in third place.

Tom Nichols will provide further attacking nous for Swindon Town

Nichols has spent the majority of his career in the fourth tier, with 260 of his appearances coming in the division for Mansfield, Gillingham, Exeter City, Crawley Town and Cheltenham Town.

The experienced forward does also have 66 goals and 37 assists at this level too, and such goalscoring and creative instinct will only be a further benefit to Swindon, who have managed to find the back of the net 31 times thus far, although Harry Smith is, by far and away the leading light in this regard with a tally of nine.

Nichols is also out-of-contract at Field Mill in the summer.

So, a successful loan period under Holloway, which, from a Swindon perspective would mean a respectable tally of goals and assists to drag them clear of the bottom two, gives him the chance to put himself in the shop window during the next opportunity for business, as it seems highly unlikely that he will not feature for Mansfield again.