DARLINGTON have been naming academy kids on their substitutes bench for much of the season, and Tommy Wright says he has faith in the youngsters should they be required.

Quakers’ manager also is not looking to add players via loan signings, principally because he cannot offer assurances that they will get into his starting XI.

Wright’s team, now 13th, have lost only one of their last eight league games, the most recent result being last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Guiseley, a game for which Sanny Lingthep, 16, and Mitchell Glover, 17, were unused subs.

The manager said: “I’m happy with the lads we’ve got starting the games and coming off the bench. Dave Syers and Jonny Burn came on, plus Ben O’Hanlon is coming back, so they’re senior players.

“We’re backed up by the likes of Mitchell Glover, Jack Vaulks and the academy boys.

“If loan players come in they have to go into the starting XI otherwise there is no point in their club letting them out on loan. That’s the first question when you ring up, ‘will they play?’

“We’re unbeaten in five games, so the answer would be ‘no, they won’t start’.

“There’s a time and place. Mitchell Glover has nothing to prove to me. I know he can handle games, but against a physical team putting him on for someone more physical than him becomes a bit of a risk.

“The lads are good enough, that’s why they’re sitting there, but I can’t bring in lads from Championship clubs because that’s not the idea of a loan.”

Darlington are without a game tomorrow as scheduled opponents Chorley are playing in the FA Cup on Sunday against Doncaster Rovers, but Wright does expect O’Hanlon (hamstring) and Jonny Maddison (hip) to have recovered by the time Quakers host Hereford a week on Saturday.