Midfielder Tommy set on improving standards at the early stage of the season.
Tommy Rowe has suggested that there is more to come from both himself and his teammates as the season approaches double figures.
The influential midfielder said that he expects his standards to be “20, 30% better” than they already are ahead of facing unbeaten Carlisle United at home on Tuesday evening.
“There’s always improvement, we always look for that. The size of the club forces you to think that way,” he said.
“We know where we want to be, the club want to be, the fans want us to be and I think it would be unfair if we didn’t share the same ambitions.
“It’s exciting really because we’ve had injuries and players who haven’t been able to play because the team has done well and it’s been hard to change.
“Personally I can get 20, 30% better and that’s me, I can’t speak for others but as a team we can get much better.”
Rowe stressed that he was enjoying life on the left of a ‘diamond’ midfield which affords players opportunities to express themselves and, in the case of captain James Coppinger, score goals.
“I’m enjoying it. The way we play, it’s enjoyable for anyone in that diamond three or four to move around,” he said.
“It’s a license to get ion the ball and rotate as much as you want and get forward. Equally we’ve shown that we can defend and, arguably, Saturday (a 3-1 defeat to Luton) was our worst day of defending for a while so we need to get back to those ways.
“James has wonderful technique and uses it well so it’s good to see the way it’s worked and, from last year, we’ve got players in different positions who’ve taken to it well so I think the gaffer and management are happy.
“My standards that I want to set are higher, keep going and progressing and improving. You set your own individual goals. I keep pushing game by game but its early doors – only nine games – we’ve still got plenty of time to go on a run of games and wins as well.”