Jamie Knight-Lebel left Bristol City and Ashton Gate on loan on transfer deadline day to join Ian Holloway’s Swindon TownBristol City loanee Jamie Knight-Lebel in action for Swindon Town(Image: EFL)

Jamie Knight-Lebel has shed light on his “late” loan switch to Swindon Town, with the Bristol City prospect enjoying his first few weeks at the County Ground having made the temporary move from Ashton Gate on transfer deadline day.

Knight-Lebel was one of three City players to depart south Bristol on loan in the final hours of the summer transfer window, with fellow Under-21 regular Adam Murphy also making the short move along the M4, whilst Sam Bell traded BS3 for Adams Park to spend the season with Wycombe Wanderers.

Having made his Swindon debut from the bench against Harrogate Town in September, the 20-year-old has started each of Ian Holloway’s side’s last three League Two matches, even finding the net from defence in the Robins’ 3-2 defeat to Salford City.

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After enjoying a successful loan spell in the fourth tier with Crewe Alexandra last term, Knight-Lebel spent much of pre-season in and around Gerhard Struber’s squad. While that proved to be valuable for his development and the defender still wants to compete for a place in the Reds’ ranks, he felt another loan spell was the best next step for his career.

“It was pretty late,” the defender explained in a Swindon press conference. “It was deadline day, so I literally heard about it a couple of hours prior to it, and I wanted to get it done as soon as I found out.

“I got the green light from Bristol [City] and then it was pretty smooth from there. When I came back from Canada, I came straight here, and it has all gone well so far.

“It’s all contextual, so obviously, I had to see what was best for me at what point,” Knight-Lebel added when asked if he was keen to leave on loan this summer. “Just because they let me go out on loan, I still want to fight for a spot there, but obviously, under the circumstances, I thought it was best for me to go on loan this season.

“Obviously, last season at Crewe was pretty successful for me. I enjoyed the experience massively, and I felt like I developed massively with pre-season at Bristol, so I think I was very excited about coming here, and when I found out that Swindon were ready to let me come here, I was very happy.

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“It’s been good so far,” he continued. “Everyone’s been really welcoming. It’s a good team, massive squad, everyone’s always fighting for places, so straight away there’s that competition which every good team needs.

“It’s a great environment, I’ve enjoyed my time so far, and hopefully, we can get more results.”

During his spell with Crewe last term, Knight-Lebel earned a maiden call-up to the Canadian Men’s National Team squad during the October international break. Although the defender was unable to get off of the bench on that occasion, he made his debut as a substitute a month later against Suriname in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The 20-year-old received another call-up from Jesse Marsch for March’s international fixtures before being named in the squad for the summer’s Gold Cup, where he made a single substitute appearance – in a win over El Salvador – as Canada were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

Knight-Lebel has not been included in Marsch’s squad for fixtures this month against Australia and Colombia, but with Canada one of the hosts for next summer’s World Cup, the City prospect is aware of the fact he could earn a rare opportunity to represent his nation in a home tournament.

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When asked how important playing regular football would be to his hopes of playing international football, he replied, “It’s very important. The last year, going to most of the camps was a great privilege for me, but I also understood that I had come because of my season with the first team.

“Obviously, with Under-23 football, you don’t get the same exposure, and it’s not quite the same, so for me to get called up again, I’ve got to keep pushing and do my best in the first team.

“It’s something that’s kind of around the corner,” Knight-Lebel added on next summer’s World Cup. “It’s definitely an opportunity that is there for me, depending on how well I do.

“Obviously, it is down to me and just how much I want it, really, but as well, Canada has got a very good squad at the moment, and everyone is playing high-level football across Europe and the MLS, so it’s a tough squad to get in as well. I’ve just got to keep going and doing what I can do every day.”

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