IT’S that time of the year again, the transfer window is wide open and the manager and chairman are working overtime to add that little bit of extra quality to the squad.

We’ve lost Michael Smith, who has gone back to Charlton, but we have plenty of strength in depth up front with Christian Jolley and Robbie Willmott arriving this week and Danny Crow back from injury.

Michael did well for us and it’s a bit of a blow to lose him but we’ve lost players before and others in the squad have stepped up to the plate to replace them.

I’m sure there’ll be more players coming in over the coming weeks as well.

That will be great because we want to be up at the top of the league. I don’t even want the play-offs, I want automatic promotion because we’re over halfway now and if we can get a few more quality signings in I think it can take us over the line and back to the Football League.

Danny coming back is also big for us. We’ve all missed his horrendous banter in training and his constant moaning.

And on the pitch we all know what an important player he is for us.

The sooner he’s fully fit and chipping in with goals the better.

We were disappointed not to win the game against Wrexham last week because we had the best chances and I think we were the better team overall.

Obviously Wrexham are a good side as well and they’re not up there by fluke.

They’ve got a good manager in Andy Morrell and are a real good outfit so I think if we finish above them we’ll be promoted.

Even though it ended 1-1, the performance was a lot better than against Forest Green, particularly in defence.

And it was important that we bounced back because to lose 5-0 at home is shocking.

A few of our players could have gone into their shells after a result like that but we showed the character in this squad and on another day we would have picked up three points against one of our big rivals.

Personally I think I’m improving with every game at the moment and it’s nice to see the manager praising me in the Argus.

I’ve played in a number of positions this season and I’m not a big time person so I’ll play wherever the gaffer wants me to.

But I’m really enjoying the role I’ve got at the moment in a midfield three and I feel the fans are starting to see the best of me now.

I had a sort of mini pre-season when we had a break because of the postponed games and I think that has benefited me.

As a unit I think me, Lee Evans and Max Porter are really starting to work well together now.

Max is a bit of an unsung hero for us. He does a lot of good things for the team that maybe don’t get noticed but he’s a vital part of our success this season.

And Evo is coming on all the time. He’s still learning but you can see he’s got talent – that’s why people are looking at him – and he’s just got to knuckle down and keep working hard.

He’s certainly got the right attitude because he’s quite often the last one left on the training pitch working on his free-kicks.

To be fair he needs a lot of practice because most of them end up hitting the windows as we’re all having a shower!

I nearly got the winner at the end of the Wrexham game with a header against the bar and I was gutted that didn’t go in.

My mate had a bet on me to score so I think he put the jinx on me but he’s an Aston Villa fan and I got my own back by betting on Bradford to beat them in the League Cup semi-final this week.

I’m obviously delighted for my old team and all my former teammates. It’s dreams come true stuff for them.

My old gaffer Phil Parkinson had a bit of a clear out in the summer and they are really doing well.

I’m really fond of Bradford and there’s definitely no sour grapes from me.

I want them to go all the way and follow in County’s footsteps to a Wembley cup final.

I know Valley Parade can be an intimidating place for visiting teams and maybe we could be going there next season with County.

I hope not because I want us and Bradford to both get promoted, but if they miss out it would be a great occasion for me to go back.