Marlon Pack played alongside Robins striker Wes Thomas at Dagenham

Teenage midfielder Marlon Pack says his desire to play first team football made up his mind to join Cheltenham Town.

"It was the draw of playing," Pack told BBC Gloucestershire, after arriving on a season-long loan deal from ex-Robins boss Steve Cotterill's Portsmouth.

"Hopefully I can get a whole season behind me playing games.

"The gaffer has got massive praise for the club here. He said it is a good set-up. They're a good young side, and a good passing team."

Pack, 19, joins Cheltenham after making an appearance in the Championship for Portsmouth as a substitute against Cardiff. But he feels that he would have been on the fringes at Fratton Park this season had he stayed.

After loan spells last season both at Wycombe and Dagenham & Redbridge, he is eager to add to his experience in a Cheltenham side who have started the season well with seven points from their first four games.

"I've played about 30 league games now overall," said Pack, "so if I keep building that I'll be 20 by the time the season's finished and hopefully get quite a lot of games under my belt.

"It always looks good for the future. The team seems to be doing well, so hopefully I can fit in well."

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