A SUBSTITUTE appearance during Darlington’s defeat to Hartlepool United on Tuesday saw Mitchell Glover provide a reminder of his qualities, though he may need to wait before being given a run in the team.

The midfielder turns 18 in April, and next season could well be his time to shine, says manager Tommy Wright.

Wright rates him highly, though has used the youngster sparingly since bringing him to the club in December 2017 from Nuneaton.

He has made three league appearances this season, two as substitute, having to bide his time while Wright works on developing the youngster’s game, just as he has with striker Harvey Saunders.

Wright said: “Mitchell Glover had a great 35 minutes on Tuesday and he reminded everyone that he has got quality,” said the boss.

“He is learning the ugly side of the game, he got stuck into tackles, pressing a bit more and winning headers. He did everything we asked of him.”

Saunders, 21, has been a regular in the starting XI this season and last week signed for Fleetwood Town in League One, but will complete the campaign on loan to Quakers.

Wright added: “Mitchell is in the same situation as Harvey was. Harvey didn’t start as many games last season as he wanted to as he was still learning, Mitchell is in the same position.

“I can’t teach Mitchell anything technically because he’s got the lot, but in terms of his pressing and his reaction when he gives the ball away, the physical side of things, that’s what he needs to develop.

“He’s working hard at it and on Tuesday it was great to see him put it into practice because he’s shown it in flashes in training and we’ve been trying to implement it in academy games, but it’s harder for him because he hasn’t got the players around him that are necessarily at his level.

“It’ll be next year for him.”

On Saturday Darlington play at Curzon Ashton, a team that has won four fixtures in a row and risen to 13th in the table, three points ahead of Quakers.