EVERY cloud has a silver lining - just ask Efe Sodje.

Had things worked out differently, the 31-year-old defender would have been representing Nigeria in the African Nations Cup at the moment.

He was bitterly disappointed at missing selection in coach Christian Cuhkwu's squad last month - a chance to add to Nations Cup duty in 2000 and World Cup action two years ago.

Sodje is having to follow the tournament action from Tunisia on BBC, however, as bad weather takes its toll here, but you will find nothing but a smile on the face of the genial Greenwich-born centre-back even in the wake of the postponement at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

"We are on a fantastic run and I'm enjoying playing, so everything is great at the moment," beamed Sodje, who has captained Peter Jackson's side in the last two matches.

"All over Christmas and New Year everything has gone well for us and we've got it all to play for.

"The first day I came to this club I said to the gaffer that we would go for promotion and I have never changed that train of thought.

"We are up to fifth, but we don't want to stop there. We don't want the play-offs, we want to go up automatically.

"I really do think we will finish up in Division II at the end of this season. It's just one of those things you can sense."

After making a nightmare return to the starting line-up in the 4-0 defeat at his former club, Macclesfield, Sodje had responded to his international snub in the best possible way.

Playing alongside Steve Yates in the last seven matches, he has forged a tremendous partnership and been a tower of strength.

It helps Sodje's style of aggressive defending, of course, to have the classy Nathan Clarke at sweeper, and he takes pride in the record of four clean sheets and just two goals conceded in this winning run of six games.

"I just feel the momentum is with us," said Sodje, who arrived from Crewe at the same time Yates was being signed from Sheffield United.

"Our away form has picked up at last, our rivals in the table are bound to lose some matches along the way, so all we have to do is keep on winning for as long as we can. I asked the fans before Christmas to be patient with us because I felt things would turn around.

"They were patient and, now, they are geting what they deserve."

Sodje, who lives just off the M6 near Crewe, has every faith in his colleagues to build on this improved run.

"There is some good banter about the place and we enjoy coming in to work," he said.

"Taff is always telling myself and Yatesy that if they took us two out of the starting line-up, we would be fielding a school team!

"We were talking before the York game, though, and me and Yatesy reckon we're the old men doing a dirty job.

"But we are happy to do the dirty work if we are keeping clean sheets and winning matches, because that's what we all want."

When Town went into a huddle with manager Jackson after the final whistle at Bootham Crescent, Sodje was the first to emerge.

He clapped the fans long and hard and then pumped his arms in celebration.

"It was a good game to play in and the workrate alone was unbelievable," he said.

"I thought it was going to finish 0-0, especially when Phil Senior made that brilliant save, but Dave Mirfin came on and the big lad won the game."

So can he confirm that team spirit is as good as it appears to be?

"Better," he said. "The huddle is something we've been doing for ages.

"We tend to have a little hug in the changing room before we go out onto the pitch and it's something we repeat at half time - just like we did to pick things up against York.

"After the match, we just got together and said we wanted to go to the fans and thank them for their support. It was brilliant."