Having spent so long on the sidelines this season, Liam Hatch says he would be happy to continue in defence if it means getting back into the Darlington side.

He stepped in at short notice on Saturday when Chris Hunter suffered the recurrence of a longstanding ankle injury before Quakers’ 5-1 win at Harrogate RA, giving Hatch only his fifth start of the season.

Sixteen of his 21 appearances since rejoining Darlington from Gateshead last summer have been as a substitute, and only once has he been selected in his favoured position up front, but he says he is prepared to adapt.

“I definitely prefer playing as a striker, it’s been my position since I was a kid,” said Hatch. “But I’ve filled in at centre-half a few times now and I’m getting used to it.

“I want to play games and if I get called upon to play centre-half then I will.

“It’s been frustrating being in and out of the side and only playing a bit-part, but when you get called upon you have to be ready. You can’t expect it, but I’d see Hunter was struggling in the warm-up so I had to make sure I was ready just in case.”

While considered cover by Martin Gray, Hatch’s presence in the squad last weekend proved hugely beneficial to the manager, who was without Alan White and Adam Mitchell due to suspension plus Hunter.

Hatch enjoyed a fine game at centre-back alongside Gary Brown, and he added: “After the warm-up Martin told me that I’d be starting because Chris was still struggling with an ankle injury, so I had to step in.

“Their No. 9 was a big strong lad, but I thought me and Browny defended well and were unlucky not to get a clean sheet.

“It’s pretty much the same at this level as it is in the professional game. You still have to read the game, and I think I know where a forward is going to run, that helps me out. The pitches aren’t as good as they are at professional clubs, so it’s harder to turn.”

However, White returns from suspension this weekend when top-of-the-table Darlington travel to Kendal Town and should Hunter remain unavailable then Hatch would make way.

Andrew Cartwright made a good first impression at right-back after joining on loan from Sunderland and Gray was pleased with his debut.

Gray said: “He was committed, he wasn’t overawed by it and I liked what he said after the game. He said: ‘That was a proper game of football’.

“They’re aren’t taught to play games like this in the Premier League. I told him to get used to it, because that’s what it’s like, awful pitches and it’s all about the result.”