MARK Shelton has enjoyed back to back promotions with Salford City. The chances of him making it a hat-trick this season with are remote. The Ammies sit 12th in League Two, while Hartlepool United, where he is on loan, are a position and a division below.

The midfielder, however, is content with his lot. He’s back playing football again, working under a manager who wants him and this week scored his first goal for Pools.

Shelton seems to fit into Dave Challinor’s plans at Pools. Hard-working and honest, his loan at Victoria Park was only for a month, but Challinor yesterday turned it into a longer arrangement. Shelton will now stay at Pools until the end of the season.

After he finished off a neat build-up in midweek to get the better of Eastleigh, Shelton admitted: “It was a good move, it came from the left side and the gaffer has told me to get in the box thanks to the formation we are playing. I timed it well and got it pulled back, it was about getting a good connection on it.

“I try and get forward, a few have gone out of the stadium…. It was nice to give the fans something to cheer about. I’m enjoying my time here.’’

Shelton added: “Things weren’t going they way they wanted at Salford, I started the season and then I was out and then the weeks tick by….

“I went to Woking on loan, but they are part-time and with the travelling it didn’t really work out for me.

“It was made clear the manager wanted me here and it’s about repaying him. It’s good to be playing football and help the team get up the table. I’m living with a few of the lads, it’s all enjoyable – training, the set-up – and I’m happy to stay.’’

Shelton moved to Salford from Alfreton, when the sides were in the same division. It was still some step up in size and stature.

“Salford is a club with expectation. I signed there in Conference North and got back to back promotions. When you do so well there, the expectation is to win,’’ he mused.

“Expectations are high to win every game. Draw or lose and questions are asked – everyone is looking at each other. Being realistic it doesn’t work like that does it?

“This season at the start it was hard in a new league, new players coming in and you have to settle quickly.

“The club gets a lot of media attention with the owners, but when you sign for the club you are under no illusions over what you are expected to do. It’s good as a player because you want to win games and win leagues – which is what you want as a player.

“I think it all comes from the very top. Gary [Neville] is the one who has the influence and drives it. He makes a lot of off-field decisions.

“Gary is very involved, very emotional, very passionate and I think the club needs that.

“You don’t get where you are without that – meet him and he’s 100 miles an hour, there’s no off switch!

“He’s been very successful in what he’s done and it reflects on the pitch. Standards are set and there’s no room for error there.’’

Shelton missed more than half of last season. After suffering injury in November, he didn’t return until the very end; playing 20 minutes of the play-off final win at Wembley against Challinor’s Fylde.

He added: “Getting into the Football League was the aim there. I was out for six months after breaking my leg. I wasn’t even in the squad and then I was picked for the play-off final at Wembley, so I can thank the manager for that.

“I’ve been lucky enough to win to leagues at my age already and some people go through their whole career without winning anything.

“You then can think it’s normal to do that, but it’s not. The effort and time that goes into it is phenomenal to win games – and that’s the case at every club.’’