STEPHEN Humphrys says he finally felt ‘fully sharp’ in the home game against Charlton Athletic last week.

The 27-year-old forward, who signed on the final day of the summer transfer window, has made six starts and four substitute appearances, scoring at Burton Albion and at home to Wycombe Wanderers. He had not had a pre-season so has been building up his match fitness since joining the club. He told the Chronicle: “Fitness is one thing and sharpness is another. I felt fitter quickly but I was frustrated in games because the sharpness wasn’t there.

“The first time I felt fully sharp was at home last week. I am feeling back to myself and know I have a lot more to give and I am just excited.”

The Reds had two weeks without a league game before taking seven points from their most recent three.

“We had an in-house game between us. It’s not like we had two weeks without a game. You can get real match fitness out of it. We had proper refs.

“But mainly it was a mentality thing. We were told: ‘this is how we’re going to play, you need to buy into it and you will reap the benefits.’

“Literally every single player has bought into it and that’s why we had a seven-point week which probably should have been a nine-point week.

“Maybe it was a change in tactics, maybe it is just getting to know each other. I have never played with anyone at this club before. Sometimes you go into a club and know what they’re good at and not good at.

“The break gave us time to be cohesive and have a proper gameplan.”

He added: “A lot of teams were jetting off and having time off.

“We had one day off in two weeks. With the work we’ve put in and the manager’s ideas, it was only going to go one way which is up. Players like Georgie Gent and Jon Russell have stepped up and been brilliant.”