Luke Chambers is enjoying a successful central defensive partnership with Tommy Smith and predicts a tremendous future ahead for his younger team-mate.
Chambers, 27, said: "Tommy and I thought it could flourish during the early part of the season but for one reason or another there were a lot of mistakes that were made and we were conceding goals.
"The previous manager decided to bring Danny [Higginbotham] in and he did really well when he played. Tommy had to sit on the sidelines and I think that has brought him back as a better player.
"He’s still a young lad at 22 and for me he’s got a great future in the game. If he continues to play the way he has been playing I don’t think there’s any limit to where he can go.”
It is not just New Zealand international Smith’s displays that have impressed Chambers but his ability to talk to and organise those around him in the heat of battle.
Chambers added: "Tommy is really growing into the role. His international commitments and the fact he is captaining his country is a massive thing for a player of his calibre.
"He’s never going to shy away from responsibility, talking and organising things, and I have to say I think we’ve been tremendous in [recent] games. To get a clean sheet against Millwall was even more of a bonus.”
The Kettering-born centre-half feels Town fans are yet to see him at his best since his summer switch from Nottingham Forest: "I think there’s more to come from me but in the last few games I feel I’ve been getting back to my old self again.
"It’s always difficult when you come to a new club and results are not going the way you would like. All I can do is keep focusing on my performances and hope the team pick up results.”