Keith Curle has rekindled ex-Mansfield Town winger Paul Anderson’s love for the game at Northampton Town

Anderson began his spell with Mansfield impressively in 2017/18, playing 40 games and proving versatile.

But he fell out of favour behind the scenes with the then-boss David Flitcroft and found himself frozen out the following season.

A move to Plymouth in February last year saw him only play four times for the Pilgrims as he began to question his future, and it's only now he has revived his career with the Cobblers.

“I think it’s the mutual respect to be honest,” he said. “They’ve given me an opportunity at a time when I was potentially down and out.

“I’ve missed so much football through no fault of my own and I’d lost that love for the game a bit, but Cobblers gave me an opportunity to find that love again.

“I’m loving every minute. You can see that when I’m playing because I’m smiling all the time - although I do sometimes get angry on the pitch for no reason!

“It’s one of those where I’m just loving playing football at the minute and I hope people can see that when I’m on the pitch. When the run is as good as it has been for us, how can you not enjoy it?”

Curle has been delighted with Anderson since he unexpectedly signed the midfielder on a short-term deal in October.

The 31-year-old’s energy and industry in the middle of the park has been a major factor behind Town’s surge up the League Two table over the past three months and that form was rewarded with a new contract last week.

He has even netted his first goal for them, smiling: “It was a real difficult time when I was without the club over the summer and it was such a nice moment to finally celebrate a goal after putting in some good performances.

“I really believe the club are going somewhere.

“The staff and the players are all pulling together and the lads have been brilliant since I signed.

“I know we were struggling a bit when I first came in but we’ve just been on this great run and all of us in the changing room believe we’re doing the right thing.

“It’s not always the prettiest but we know exactly what we’re doing and we’re working hard at it in training and bringing it to matches.”