As we head into yet another tedious international break, it is fair to say the mood around the place is justifiably much, much brighter. 

To say things have started to click under Johannes Hoff Thorup would be tantamount to the understatement of the century, with his City side collecting 10 points from the last available 12.

However, what has been most satisfying about the recent run of form has been the way they have been collected.

Last season, there is no denying that David Wagner delivered a fine run of results in the second half of the season to gatecrash the play-offs. Clearly, he deserves credit for this.

But I don't think it would be particularly unfair to say that truly convincing wins in this period were fairly few and far between. 

In a weird way, we got into a habit of delivering impressive results without impressive performances - at home anyway.

What we've been treated to in recent weeks though has been impressive, and some.

The most recent victory over Hull City was as convincing as they come. The Tigers well and truly did not lay a paw on us from start to finish - simply because they were not allowed to.

While it is the nature of the Championship that there will sometimes be games that are easier than others - this was a Hull side that had come off the back of three comfortable wins, scoring 10 goals in the process.

Watford came to Carrow Road having lost just once and with a decent recent record against City - and were swept aside.

Derby welcomed City to Pride Park on a run of nine consecutive home wins and without having conceded in front of their own fans. Albeit fortuitously, Norwich won.

It's as if Along Come Norwich has developed a whole new meaning under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

The Dane really appears to have instilled an impressive new mentality in the squad.

This new mentality seems to be built on a philosophy of never resting on laurels, always being hungry and not stopping any short of perfection.

During Saturday's barnstorming victory, which could comfortably have been much more than 4-0, one moment stood out at me as summing this up.

It may feel strange to say following a 4-0 victory, but it was actually something in our own penalty box.

With the match well and truly won and the clock ticking comfortably into stoppage time, Kellen Fisher timed a meaty challenge perfectly to keep the clean sheet intact.

Clearly, somewhere in a parallel universe he may have mistimed that challenge, given away a penalty and got sent off and we'd all be saying "what was he thinking?".

But the fact of the matter is, he got it right, won the ball and ensured our defence dam remained unbreached.

And this to me just sums up what Thorup is building at Colney - not to mention what a terrific player Fisher is becoming.

In the 90th minute of a game that is comfortably won, players were still putting their bodies on the line and fighting to protect a clean sheet. 

Fisher and his defensive colleagues celebrated that challenge and clearance like it was a goal - and rightly so.

Nobody would have turned their noses up at a 4-1 victory before kick-off, but it was clear how much keeping that clean sheet meant. And rightly so.

This is exactly the kind of mentality we had during Farke's days and exactly what was sadly lacking under Smith and Wagner. 

It is also the kind of mentality that you need to challenge for promotion - which I am now very confident this side will be doing.

Shane Duffy's redemption arc

Shane Duffy  (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) At the tail end of last season, Shane Duffy disgraced himself. There is no mistaking this.

There is no excuse for his drink-driving conviction and the timing of the incident was even worse.

As somebody who regularly covers the coroner's court, I have seen the devastation that drink-driving can cause and Duffy was rightfully punished in the criminal courts for his actions.

It was also an insult to his supporters that it happened in between the two biggest games of the season.

I, for one, would have had no qualms whatsoever if the club had torn up his contract the day his conviction was confirmed.

But while I can't defend his actions at the time, I have to say his recent form on the pitch is worthy of praise.

Clearly, the Irishman has really got his head down following his error and has been working incredibly hard on his game.

Certainly in the last few weeks, he has looked like a totally different player. 

He has become more assured on the ball, has been encouraging his teammates and putting his body on the line for the cause.

Just as other fans were, I was incredibly cross by his antics between the play-off games, but his attitude since then seems to have been exemplary. 

His coach has gone on the record of praising his impact on younger players and this has also become visible on the pitch.

His redemption arc is turning into a really positive subplot of what is developing into a hugely promising season. Long may it continue.