We spoke to striker Ashley Nadesan shortly after full time on Saturday after he made an immediate impact on the game by providing the assist for Richie Bennett's match-winning goal.
“Everything happened really quickly on Friday,” he told us. “I just jumped on the coach and came down. I found out I was in the team earlier today [Saturday] which I didn’t expect.
"There was 19 of us who travelled, and I thought I would be the spare man because I haven’t really trained or anything yet. It was obviously good to get on the pitch and be part of us getting three points."
On the assist that led to the only goal of the game, he commented: “I prefer scoring myself but helping Benno [Richie Bennett] to get more goals seems to be what I do!
"As soon as I found out about the move I messaged Benno and he said we needed to try and get our partnership going again. As soon as we found out we were playing up top together I think we were both really looking forward to it, and it obviously worked well. He flicks it on and I can make the runs, so it just works.
“The lads have had a tough start and I think it was important for everyone to get that first win. Exeter isn’t an easy place to go and Northampton are a big team to be in League Two. To come down here and get the three points and a clean sheet today is a massive bonus."
Coming back to the place where he'd established himself as a corwd favourite, he said: “It just feels right when I’m at this club. As soon as I got on the coach on Friday the lads all made me feel welcome again.
"The support from the fans was unreal on social media, and at the game. Even when I was still at Fleetwood they were still messaging me and asking when I was coming back here, which is always nice.
“When I first joined the club, the response was nowhere near what it was like this time because people didn’t really know me. I did well in my loan move last season and I obviously impressed the fans because they were really pleased to see me come back again.
“That gives you confidence as a player. The lads have helped with that and the gaffer putting me straight into the team has also given me a lot of confidence. The support from the lads and the fans really helps with everything."
And with the manager and coach Paul Murray having been part of the Fleetwood set-up last season, it was bound to make last week's transition easier with familiar faces to welcome him into the mix.
“I knew of the gaffer from when I was at Fleetwood, and I obviously know Paul," he confirmed. "He was my coach when he was with the under-23s. Muzza always calls me and asks how I’m doing, he really took me under his wing when he was down there. He tried to push me into the first team and he was a big factor in me coming here last year, and obviously this time around as well.
"As I came to Carlisle last year the gaffer had just taken over as Fleetwood manager. I didn’t really get to work with him but the lads at Fleetwood said they all enjoyed it.
“It just feels like home here. As soon as I found out about it on Friday I wanted to come. I got pulled into the office and asked if I wanted to go, so I snapped their hands off and away I went.
“I was speaking to Fleetwood and my agent and there were a few rumours around, but on Friday I went into Fleetwood expecting to train with them as normal. Next thing I was meeting up with the squad and that was a good way to do things."
“I played a few pre-season games at Fleetwood and got a few goals and assists," he explained. "The gaffer there will pick who he wants, and I wasn’t part of that, so I just want to come here and show what I can do again.
"The gaffer and the coaches there have just told me to come up here and prove myself, then give them a headache when I go back.
“Joey Barton is a great manager, any of the lads could go and talk to him whenever we needed to. Clint Hill and Steve Eyre are the same, they’re all really good man-managers. There are obviously new tactics and things like that, but I think the lads are enjoying it.
“Like I said, I did play a few games for Fleetwood in pre-season, but I wasn’t getting the 90 minutes that I would have liked. I played one lot of 90 minutes, so I think it will take me a couple of games to get fully match fit. To get 75 minutes or so today and not get injured or get cramp was a good sign."
Next up for the Blues is Tuesday night's home game against Port Vale.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Brunton Park and playing in front of the home fans again," he said. "I just want to get as many games under my belt as I can during my time here, and I can’t wait to do it in a home game again.
"We all just want to get as high up the table as we can and see where it takes us.”
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