Heading into the January transfer window, Sutton United would have been more interested in players returning from injury than new faces coming through the door.
In particular, Ben Goodliffe and Alistair Smith’s recoveries could not come soon enough and since their return at the end of December the Us have gone on to claim 10 points from a possible 15.
The window also opened with another familiar face re-joining in the form of David Ajiboye, on loan from Peterborough United for the remainder of the season.
The 24-year-old has seen limited first-team action since leaving Sutton in the summer and will relieve some of the attacking impetus from the shoulders of Will Randall, Enzio Boldewijn and Josh Neufville.
Also bolstering the forward line for an undisclosed fee is Lee Angol from promotion rivals Bradford City as well as Matthew Dennis and Hisham Kasimu.
Dennis, 20, arrives on loan from MK Dons via a positive loan stint at Southend last season while 25-year-old Kasimu makes a permanent switch from National League South side Farnborough after impressing in their FA Cup win over Sutton in November.
By bringing in a number of different types of forwards, Gray now has the luxury of varying his attacking set-up and approach – something Sutton have lacked in the past, making them far too predictable to play against.
And already things are beginning to click, Ajiboye (who scored eight in the league last season) opening his account by claiming the only goal in Sutton’s recent win over Harrogate Town.
Deadline day brought one final arrival – 21-year-old goalkeeper Tyla Dickinson on loan from Wycombe replacing Lewis Ward whose deal was terminated by mutual consent after struggling to make an impact after joining from Swindon last September.
There were a number of other outgoing players who failed to settle at the club for one reason or another – loanee Charley Kendall recalled by Lincoln, summer signing Kwame Thomas moving to Dundee on loan and Aaron Pierre joining AFC Wimbledon permanently.
Pierre arrived in August as a free agent to offset the defensive injury damage the club were experiencing but only managed to make three appearances as he himself repeatedly suffered spells on the sidelines.
With Goodliffe now returning to full fitness, the move makes sense – although Sutton will be hoping their injury woes are behind them or they may rue the decision to let the 29-year-old leave for a promotion rival.
Elsewhere, forward Tope Fadahunsi joined National League side Torquay United to gain much-needed playing experience and has already found the back of the net in just his second appearance.
Gray aimed to loan the 23-year-old out in the summer but decided to retain his services after Fadahunsi scored the winner against Barrow, seven minutes into his debut.
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The loan move is with one eye on the future, Sutton hoping he will come back stronger in readiness for next season – an aim the club will undoubtedly share for 18-year-old Tobi Ogundega who has moved to Salisbury on loan.
In comparison to last January, where just one signing was made, the Us have been much more proactive this time around as the side sit just three points outside the Play-Off places.
With an influx of firepower, a returning fan favourite on the wing and key players recovered from injury, there’s no reason why Sutton United aren’t in a position to make a serious promotion push.