Evans 'enjoying' life at Sixfields and loving his role in Hogg's system

The 32-year-old, who joined Cobblers a day before the first competitive game of the campaign, started Town’s opening four league fixtures before he was sent off against Crawley Town.

Evans served a three-game suspension but he went nearly six weeks without a competitive outing due to a combination of the way the fixtures fell and the prolonged international break.

"I'm enjoying myself here,” said the midfielder. “There was a lot of turnover and the summer was a bit slower than I expected but after speaking with the manager, this was a move that I wanted to go ahead with.

"It started OK and then I got sent off, daftly, and that was a bit of a killer because I ended up missing for more than a month, but I feel I'm starting to get into a bit of rhythm now.

"I probably needed it in a way because I didn't have a pre-season. Doigy (Chris Doig) worked me hard and I needed that at the time because you can't just blag your way through, you need to do the ground work and that really helped me.

"Now it's about stringing games together and playing well and helping the team climb the table.”

Evans has thrived as the deepest midfielder in Hogg’s system. He regularly dictates the play and often has the most touches and attempts the most passes in the team, and he was also instrumental in both goals against Colchester.

"It is what I enjoy,” he added. “That was a big draw for me when I came here and spoke to the manager. We just missed each other at Ipswich but he had watched me and told me what he wanted from me - to get on the ball, to break play up and control the tempo of the game. I think we see the game in a similar way and I'm really enjoying it."

After starting the season next to Tyrese Fornah, Evans has been partnered by his namesake Connor in recent weeks.

"I enjoy playing with Connor,” he continued. “We played together in the international break in a couple of friendlies against Derby and MK Dons and I've really enjoyed it.

“We didn't quite get the results at the start of the season but Connor has come in and done really well. He brings loads of energy and I think we complement each other. We both want to take the ball and we want to play nice football. “

While recent performances have been better, Evans believes there’s more to come.

He added: “We've had some good results but we're not in the position we want to be. I didn't come here to be in this position and I don't think the manager came here to be in this position.

"It's up to us as players to start winning more games and climb the table as quickly as possible and iIt all starts with performances. You can fluke a result here and there but if our performances are not consistent, we're not going to anything this season.

"Performances have got better, and there have been positives, but there are also things we need to improve. We’re getting there but we still have a way to go.”

And Town’s improvement will be put to the test by an in-form Accrington Stanley this weekend. Accy are seven unbeaten and haven’t lost at home so far this season.

"It's going to be tough,” admitted Evans. “We've watched a little bit of them and the manager and the coaching staff will come up with their plans. It's never an easy place to go.

"They're on a good run but for us, most games are just going to be about us and what we do. As long as we look after ourselves and to the basics and bring the work effort, we'll be OK.”