YASER Kasim feels the signings made by Swindon Town in January will generate the kind of competitive environment the squad needs to ensure they maintain their League One play-off push.

Town added Michael Smith, George Barker and Jamie Reckord during the January transfer window, which closed on Friday.

For Kasim, Swindon’s latest acquisitions have helped improve the mindset of the Robins’ players and he thinks that can only iccrease the team’s chances of finishing in the top six.

“I think they’ve done well. I think they’ve given competition, I think one or two players have lifted their game because of it. I think it’s good,” he told the Advertiser.

“They’re good lads, they’ll fit in well and hopefully they’ll keep working hard and doing the business. It’ll breed a better environment, as long as the players know they fight on the pitch and on the training ground and then off it we’re all friends.

“It can only breed good things come matchday. We’re in and around it and I think, if we keep believing, we can get there. “I’d love to get in the play-offs and have a chance to get up to the next division.”

Kasim was not involved in the 1-0 defeat to Oldham on Saturday as he was rested, but the Iraqi was happy to be reunited with Massimo Luongo in the middle of midfield at Walsall last week after his teammate was moved forward out of the holding role in front of the back four. “It feels good to play with Mass, sometimes Louis (Thompson) comes in and there’s a nice little balance in there,” he said.

“Sometimes it takes time to work but it’s looking good in there and, looking at the future, it could be a really good midfield.”

Kasim recognised how important it now is for Town to take at least a point from as many games as possible as they try to keep up with the top six.

“Those points count up and you look back at it and you think we should have done better,” he said. “The team is taking on a little bit of a new shape now where we seem to understand how to win or get a point and they all count.”