Like his team, Scunthorpe United attacker Garry Thompson has suffered something of an identity crisis this season.

Both have struggled to make an impact in the way they had hoped. Both, he says, had 'lost track' of their old selves.

But an encouraging performance in last month's 3-2 defeat at Notts County has changed all that.

It means spirits are high as the Iron prepare to resume action following an unscheduled two week break.

"I think the big thing was hard work and enthusiasm to play football," said Thompson, when asked what made the difference at Meadow Lane. "A willingness to work hard for each other, which has probably been lacking from performances recently.

"That's unheard of for a Scunthorpe player and as a team.

"We had a long talk after the Hartlepool game (a 2-0 home defeat), as players. We all said how we were feeling and what we thought.

"We played against AFC Wimbledon (in the FA Cup) and were disappointed with how we played, especially after the long talk we'd had.

"But then we said, enough is enough, this is where it ends. This is where we need to start working hard first and foremost, we can't just play tippy-tappy football.

"I think that's sunk in.

"That's got to be the mentality. We need to work hard first and foremost, especially at home because this is where we play our football. No-one should be coming to our house and beating us.

"I think we lost track of that a little bit, but I like to feel we're back on track now."

The same applies on a personal level, with Thompson buoyed by his performance alongside Bobby Grant against the Magpies.

"I was very pleased," he said. "I felt like I was back to my old self, charging people down and hustling. I felt powerful and strong.

"If I'm being honest, I feel that is my strongest position, down the middle.

"I'm hoping me and Bobby can form a good partnership because I felt we worked really well together.

"Bobby's cute and he's clever, he comes to get the ball to his feet, and I'm more about trying to hold it up and getting in behind.

"I felt we stretched them really well and worked really well as a partnership. We seemed to know where each other was.

"I like to feel I'm big and strong and can take the pressure off Bobby to go and win the headers, and he can get in behind me.

"He's a good finisher, as he's proved this year.

"If I can take any pressure off him, stretch the opposition defence and give him those pockets to work in, then hopefully we'll reap the benefits.

"Maybe that's something we've lacked – a little bit of pace in behind, stretching teams and opening up the pitch for the likes of Michael O'Connor and Bobby to get on the ball and show what they can do.

"As any footballer knows, you want to be playing week in, week out. I've not been given that liberty.

"I've been in and out of the team, rightly or wrongly, most of the season.

"But I'm hoping now, if I keep putting the performances in, I'll keep playing.

"At the end of the day, it's down to myself as a footballer to go out there and prove I should be wearing the shirt and be in the starting XI.

"I probably lost the track of that in a way. I'm back on track with it now and hopefully I can show not just the manager but the fans as well, the old Garry Thompson."

To do that against Carlisle tomorrow would be extra special for the former Morecambe man.

"Hopefully I can grab a couple of goals tomorrow because it's against a team I used to go watch when I was a kid," said Thompson.

"My granddad used to take me up there a fair few times when I was a young boy.

"It's sort of a local derby for me in a way, being from Kendal.

"I'm looking forward to it.

"Carlisle is my team and I've got a lot of friends back home who are Carlisle fans. It would be nice to put one over on them as well.

"I think all the lads have just been buzzing for the next game. We all felt we'd turned the corner against Notts County and it doesn't matter who it was, hopefully we'll steamroller them tomorrow."