IT is sixth versus seventh tonight when another win for Darlington would put them “right in the mix”, says Will Hatfield.

The dynamic midfielder will play against his former club Guiseley at Nethermoor, where he spent four seasons until leaving last summer to sign for The Quakers for whom he has been one of the team’s most consistent performers.

He has missed only one of Darlington’s league games, playing a key role in Alun Armstrong’s team which is now seventh after winning six of their last seven league matches, the latest being Saturday’s 3-0 success against Alfreton Town.

Hatfield is looking forward to going back to his former club, who also won at the weekend and have lost only one of their last seven matches.

He said: “A lot of the lads from last season have left but one or two left and the manager is there as well.

“The people behind the scenes who are still there, it’ll be nice to see them and the fans at Guiseley were a different class with me. I’m sure I’ll get a warm reception, I did well for them, but most importantly for me is that I am desperate to get three points for Darlington.

“They are doing well so it will be a tough game but if we can get three points there it would put us right in the mix.”

Hatfield set up the second goal on Saturday, a nicely-weighted pass ahead of Adam Campbell who ran on to finish, and though he has only one goal to his name in Quakers colours the midfielder is enjoying his football.

He added: “I was at Guiseley for four years and in my final year there was a bit of uncertainty about the club in how it was going forward, so it was the right time to leave and I could not have come to a better club than Darlington.

“Big club, great support, great manager and a great set of lads as well. I am really enjoying my football at the moment and lets hope it continues.”

Hatfield scored 20 times in 163 Guiseley appearances, and won goal of the season in 2018-19, a volley from outside of the penalty area against Cambridge United in the FA Cup.

A free-kick he scored against Spennymoor Town was voted second best, and he said: “I would like to chip in with a few more goals. It doesn’t play on my mind, but I would like to score more often.

“I have contributed to the team, I am enjoying being here and I can’t complain. I’ve scored goals throughout my career, and I got two really good goals last season. But I’m probably putting a lot more effort into other parts of my game and contributing in a different way.

“I feel more responsibility within this team and that’s a good thing, I think it brings the best out of me.

“I’m enjoying it and while we’re winning there’s nothing better.”

Hatfield could even wear the captain’s armband for the occasion. He was skipper for the second 45 minutes on Saturday after Terry Galbraith was substituted with an ankle problem, an issue which rules him out for the time being.

With Alex Storey struggling with a groin injury, Sean Reid is likely to continue in the centre of defence and Armstrong will have no qualms in in selecting him alongside Louis Laing, though he admits the player prefers to be in midfield or up front.

“What people might not realise, and he does not realise himself, is that he reads the game well,” said the manager, who moved Reid to defence after Galbraith’s injury.

“He is a better centre-half and centre-midfielder than he is a centre-forward.

“He was bringing the ball down, he was heading it clear – the second goal, it was it his header to Will.

“I wanted to bring him to the club earlier, but he is here now and is proving what an asset he is.”

On facing Guiseley, Armstrong said: “This is going to be tough. Guiseley are on a good run of form themselves, so we’ve got to make sure we’re at it.

“Hopefully we’ll play with the energy we had on Saturday and if we get a draw there then great, if we get a win that would be fantastic.”