EFE SODJE believes competition for places will help catapult Town into the Third Division honours race.

The 30-year-old Nigerian international laughs off all suggestions he is an automatic choice in Peter Jackson's side after impressive displays so far.

And the popular signing from Crewe warns anyone who lets their standards slip will quickly find themselves in Town's Reserves.

"Everyone has to fight and work very hard to keep their place because there are good players waiting for a chance," said Sodje, who is helping the club produce replicas of his bandana headgear.

"If you don't play well then you won't stay in the team, so the challenge is there.

"Paul Scott is a really good example. He has come into the team and taken his chance by playing really, really well.

"Now, other people will have to wait for an opportunity and it's that competition for places which drives me on as well."

Sodje, who captained the team in Rob Edwards' absence, says a clean sheet is the next target after Town chalked a first League win.

"I thought we would have a clean sheet against Bristol Rovers, but it didn't work out," he said.

"The main thing was that we got three points and we played really well to close them down, working as a solid unit."

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