TENACIOUS midfielder Josh Falkingham has been one of Darlington’s stand out performers in recent weeks, having found a route back into the team by impressing as an emergency right-back.

He had been kept out of the side for six weeks until being recalled at right-back at the beginning of last month, so had no qualms about being used in defence.

It is a position the Dunfermline player says he had not played before, but is glad to be back in the thick of things in midfield, where his battling qualities have made him a key component of Martin Gray’s team.

The 26-year-old Yorkshire terrier was Quakers’ best player on Saturday in a solid team performance, a 1-0 win at Stalybridge Celtic, as Gray’s men continued their push for the play-offs.

Falkingham almost scored too, a first-half volley being saved by goalkeeper Grant Shenton, in what was his third game back in midfield which followed three at right-back as cover for Liam Marrs and Chris Hunter.

“The manager had asked me to do a job at right-back with the couple of injuries that we had, and I was just glad to be back in the team obviously,” said Falkingham.

“But midfield, that’s my position, that’s where I like to play. It was the first time I’d ever played at right-back, the two or three games I was there, and I enjoyed it.

“When you’ve been on the bench you just want to get back into the team. It had been a frustrating time for me, I just wanted to play.

“The manager had told me I had to be patient. The lads had been doing well, but when you get your chance you’ve got to take it and now I’m back in. We’ve got to kick on now in the business end of the season.”

Falkingham’s form, coupled with Leon Scott’s suspension, which has another two games to run, means he is sure to start on Saturday when Brackley visit Blackwell Meadows.

Seventh-placed Darlington have nine games to play, five at home, and Falkingham added: “At this point in the season we’re taking it one game at a time.

“We’ll tick them off and, with the squad that we’ve got and the way we’ve turned the season around after a couple of months when we had dipped, to finish in the play-offs would be a great success.”