Gary Naysmith is delighted with the “progress” of his new look Queens side.
The Doonhamers have picked up 10 points since the turn of the year despite a tricky run of fixtures.
The Dumfries side had to travel to Tannadice where they got a point in a 3-3 draw, bagged away wins at St Mirren and Dumbarton before gaining revenge over Greenock Morton at the weekend with an impressive 3-0 victory at Palmerston.
A 1-0 home defeat to champions elect Hibernian last month is the only blot on the 2017 copybook.
Naysmith said: “We’ve played the top three teams in our last five games.
“We’ve played Hibs, played Dundee United and played Morton. To get a return of 10 points out of those five games is a credit to the players.
“And I think people can see the progression which is getting made in the team. It was all about getting the confidence back.
“The new players have certainly added something – a freshness – and I now feel as if we have got a proper squad.”
The recently appointed gaffer now has plenty of options at his disposal.
“We’ve players like Lyndon (Dykes) itching to get on, Jamie Hamill is itching and Andy Dowie was suspended for the last game,” continued the 38-year-old.
“I always wanted to get Del (Derek Lyle) in for the home games. I always thought he’d have a goal in him.”
Two of the four January signings have really caught the eye since their January loan moves to Palmerston. Loan stars Dom Thomas and Joe Thomson have shared the limelight – each midfielder scoring three times in their first five games for the club.
Thomson scored a lung-bursting third for the Doonhamers in their win over Morton last weekend – running the length of the park before calmly poking the ball past keeper Derek Gaston.
Naysmith said of the 20-year-old: “For the work that he put in over 90 minutes there are not many players who could have run the length of the pitch with the ball. But that’s what Celtic told us – one of his biggest assets is his fitness.
“As people tire he gets stronger.
“That’s three goals from him now so it’s a very pleasing return from him.”
Another youngster to catch the manager’s eye is youth team product Connor Murray. The 19-year-old attacking option made an appearance off the bench against the Ton and it might not be long till he gets his first start for the Dumfries side.
“It’s getting to the stage where I’m going to have to start playing him in the first team to see what he has got”, added Naysmith. “His training performances have been outstanding.”
Queens have been running the rule over striker Mason Robertson, son of former Rangers left-back David. The 22-year-old last played for Washington State University and was previously on trial at fellow Championship side Dundee United.