IF we end up selling Jon Stead to a Premiership club, could we make part of the deal that we keep him on loan to the end of this season? Robert Goward, e-mail
Jacko says: THAT would be an ideal scenario for us, but I honestly couldn't see it happening.
If a Premier League club is going to invest heavily in Jon Stead at this stage then I would be very surprised if they would loan him back.
They would more than likely need him in their first team or senior squad straight away, because he has already proved he can do the business in the lower divisions.
Should a top-flight club come in for him, we will obviously suss out all the options, but at the moment we have not had any telephone calls about him and we are happy to have him leading our attack.
As I said in last night's Examiner, Steady has handled the pressure of reputation really well and the quality of his goals against Doncaster spoke volumes about how relaxed he is to be in the spotlight.
Ever since Sunderland's bid was revealed, he has always been in the headlines and he always has scouts watching home and away, but he has continued to score goals and he has continued to work tirelessly for the cause.
He is a very talented player with a great future in prospect.
WHO is going to score enough goals if Stead is sold? Yvonne Jones, e-mail
Jacko says: IT'S a good question and, obviously, I would be looking to bring in another forward were Steady to move on.
I have to say, though, that we do have goals in the team already and the most encouraging thing of all is that we are creating lots of chances.
Not only have most of our defenders scored this season - Hughes, Edwards, Scott, Holdsworth and Yates, for instance - but the midfield have started to weigh in as well through Danny Schofield and Jon Worthington and Andy Booth, of course, is already in double figures.
Worthy will create a chance a game for himself and I'm sure he will score more, while Danny is a real threat, as he showed against Doncaster, and also has the ability to net double figures.
DO you have any plans to strengthen the squad in the near future? Kev Kelly, e-mail
Jacko says: A LOT depends on what happens with Steady.
If he was to move on, then I would definitely be looking for a signing, and it's an area of the team where I've kept a close watch all season because we haven't got too many frontmen.
Nat Brown has shown he can do the job, though, and in the next couple of weeks I expect Jon Newby to be back - so that will be like having a new signing on the books.
Jon has been out a long time but he showed at Bury last season and with us in pre-season that he is a quality finisher.
It's vital when he comes back that he gets an early goal to restore confidence and that the fans get right behind him, because he can have a big role to play in the closing months of the season. Jon has plenty of pace and an eye for goal and he'll be a valuable addition.
WHAT are your expectations for the season and can we get promotion? Ashley Mackereth, e-mail
Jacko says: THE most important thing is that we have settled the club down after a very troubled time and we have consolidated things in the right half of the Division III table.
Now that we have managed to establish a platform, we are certainly aiming to make a challenge up to May.
Whether we are successful or not will probably depend on two things.
Firstly, improving our away record, which has been dreadful during the first half of the season, and secondly producing the consistency which can see us build on a highly impressive home record.
I said before a ball had been kicked that we needed to make the McAlpine a fortress, and I think we can say we've achieved that.
No-one likes to come to our stadium because they know they are in for a very hard game.
Our form of late has been good, though. We have beaten some very good teams and to win so convincingly against Doncaster was the perfect start to the New Year for everyone at the club.
If we can now be consistent over the second half of the season, I am sure we will be there or thereabouts in the promotion shake-up.
DO you ease down on the physical training at this stage in the season? Mick J, Dewsbury
Jacko says: THE squad worked extremely hard in pre-season, which gave us a very solid basis for all the matches we have had, and I am pleased with our fitness.
At this time of year, the lads have a genuinely hard session probably once a week, but they keep their fitness levels up at all times.
The only thing that really counts is making sure they are properly prepared for the 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon and, providing you get the right sort of performances and results, you can play things by ear on the training front.
If the lads are performing as we would like, I am more than happy to reward them with an odd extra day off every now and again, which helps to keep them fresh.
If we are not happy with them, then they come in every day and we work on things until we get them right. We are judged on results and if we don't achieve them, we work until we do.
WILL you speak with Lee Fowler about his disciplinary record when he returns from suspension after tomorrow's game? John Walker, text
Jacko says: THERE is a very fine dividing line between aggression and stupidity and we do want Lee to stay on the right side of it, because he is a very important talent for us to have available.
On both occasions when he has been sent off, he has been on a yellow card and has still rushed into rash challenges later in the game.
The second one, against Oxford, cost him a heavy fine and, hopefully, Lee will learn from mistakes like that.
He is only 20 and still learning the game, so it's important not to overlook the ability he has got.
When we have played really well this season, Lee has invariably been the man of the match and that's a testimony to the way he plays.
He is the man who can really make us tick, but he has to temper his aggression in the right areas.
I BELIEVE Steve Yates has been our best player since his return to the side. What are your views? Old Terrace Sider, e-mail
Jacko says: STEVE rarely has a bad game, and that's why I brought him to the club in the first place.
He is one of those defenders who people don't notice too much, and that's because he is always doing the right things without any fuss.
His consistency is excellent and if he continues to play like he has been doing, the chances are our defence will stay tight.
That's important, because I've always said that if we keep clean sheets at the back, we have certainly got the players who will score goals and win matches for us up front.
I can't speak highly enough of Steve Yates, to be honest.
His attitude both on and off the field is tremendous, he is one of the senior players at the club and he is definitely one of those you could say was a model professional.
ARE the likes of Mattis and Holland unhappy at being out of the side and how easy is it to maintain a spirit in the squad? John Cartwright, Barnsley
Jacko says: ALL players want to be involved, but they have to make sure that when a chance comes they play so well that they cannot be left out.
Chris had an opportunity when Lee Fowler was suspended and he came in against Carlisle and Accrington, but those matches did not go as he or we would have planned.
He is a good pro, though, and he knows he has to be patient in waiting for a chance.
An opportunity is bound to crop up again, just like it will for Dwayne, and when it does they have to be ready to grab it.
As for squad spirit, it is really good. Has been from Day One.
WHY do you seem reluctant to use substitutes. Is it a financial restriction? Nigel, Hebden Bridge
Jacko says: IT is certainly not a financial constraint.
I have never been one to make substitutions just for the sake of it.
WITH Nat Brown playing so well, why has he not been offered a long-term deal? David, Cambridge
Jacko says: NAT needs to be consistent and produce the goods week in and week out to force my hand on a contract.
If he keeps playing like he is, there will be a contract for the next couple of seasons.
