Rushian Hepburn-Murphy says that he feels like he is playing like himself again after making a strong start to the season for Swindon Town.

The 25-year-old has scored three times in all competitions this season, despite only starting one match, and is knocking on the door of the starting 11 having impressed off the bench in Town’s last two fixtures.

Hepburn-Murphy said following Swindon’s 2-0 victory over Walsall that after completing a full preseason this year, he is feeling significantly fitter than he did last season and that is helping him to showcase his full ability.

He said: “If I had to put a number on it, I would say that I feel a million times better than last year.

“I had my first preseason this year and I am so glad that I got through that and got it out of the way, I feel ten times fitter and much better than I did last season.

“I think that I am getting back to my best, to be honest, I am getting back to the Rushian that I used to know, which is delightful for me.

“I don’t know the words to describe it, but it is quite a bit of personal emotion, coming back and feeling the way I feel. It is brilliant.”

The former Aston Villa ace also said the was very pleased that he has managed to come back firing after the injury that kept him out of the first three league games of the season.

Hepburn-Murphy found the back of the net against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle in preseason before scoring the equaliser against Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup to begin the season, but an ankle injury side-lined him for the start of the league campaign.

Adding two goals off the bench in Town’s last fixtures means that the striker is already almost halfway to the five-goal tally he managed in League Two for the entirety of last season.

He said: “It is a good confidence boost for me, preseason was a tough one and we had some tough games, but I have picked up where I left off.

“I scored two in the last two games of preseason and then I had the injury, so I didn’t know if that was going to halt my progression.

“But thankfully it didn’t, and I have managed to pick up where I left off, so I am delighted about that.”