Smith: Ricky Holmes is different class - he's helped me and the team find our form

Cobblers striker Harry Smith believes Ricky Holmes has been a major factor behind both his and the team's improved form over the last few weeks.

Holmes, whose return to the club last month came with much fanfare, was slowly eased into the team by Keith Curle following nearly two years out of the game, but he's started all of the last three matches.

In those games, Cobblers won on penalties against Stevenage, beat Burton Albion 3-1 and were only denied victory at Rochdale by an 85th minute free-kick. Smith has also been key to those improved results, scoring twice against Burton and also netting Town's only goal at Spotland.

"Holmesy is different class," said the 25-year-old on BBC Radio Northampton. "He's been training with us for a few months now so we knew him well before he signed and everyone got to know him.

"He signed his deal and it was a lift for everyone after what he did in his previous spell with the club. We knew what he was about and he's shown his class since he's come in on the field but also off the field as well.

"He's been another voice in the changing room and that has helped everyone, including me, massively."

A chat with manager Keith Curle also played a role in Smith discovering his best form of the season so far.

"We've got the best job out there," said Smith. "Football can be tough at times, especially these days with social media, but we've got to treat every game as it comes.

"The gaffer said to me recently that I've not looked happy playing games and he told me last week to take the handcuffs off and go out there, play with a smile and hopefully we'll get to see the real me and I think that's shown in the last couple of games.

"I want to do as well as possible and I think sometimes I put too much pressure on myself going into games because I'm so desperate to do well, but then when things don't go to plan, it's difficult for me to turn it around.

"So it's important to go out onto the pitch with a clear mind and that's when you see the best of me."

Curle added: "Harry has been doing a lot of work on the training ground and also with myself as an individual. He's worked on his mindset and his mental preparation for games and against Rochdale he showed his game understanding.

"He understood where he needed to be out of possession and he got himself a goal. If we put balls in the box with the quality that we've got, he will always be a threat.

"But he's also picking up and learning that game understanding in terms of where the ball is coming from. He was playing as a lone striker and I think some of the balls up to him could have been a little bit better."