Darlington left-back Dominik Werling could be forgiven for wondering what he’d let himself in for after being persuaded to join by Simon Davey only to see the club’s managerial merry-goround go into overdrive.

But 11 weeks and two changes of manager down the line the German, who impressed in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, hailed Mark Cooper for helping him settle in to life in the North- East.

“These things happen in football but I signed for Darlington Football Club, not for Simon Davey,” said Werling who is expected to be in the starting line-up against Sheffield Wednesday at The Northern Echo Arena this evening (7.30).

“I am here and I told the manager that I am committed to Darlington. I want to help to get promotion to League Two because this club is better than the Conference.

“We have to go up and that is why I am here. When I signed it was because I had told my agent wanted to play in England and Simon Davey was the first person to offer me a contract. I thought sure, why not.

“Then he moved football clubs but I am here but I am happy and I am happy with the new manager.

“He has helped me a lot and the players, because they know I have come from Germany, have given me a lot of support which is what I need.”

Werling explained that his decision to sport a number 55 on his Darlington shirt was not an indication that Cooper is building the biggest squad in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

“When I first stated in English football at Barnsley I also had 55 and just wanted to carry it on.

“It is my mother’s birth year and I’ve done it just so that when she looks on the internet to see how I’m getting on she will know that I’m thinking of her.

“In Germany it is normal to have a high number and in Turkey players had numbers as high as 88,” said the defender who played for Turkish outfit Sakaryaspor and TSV Crailsheim, FC Union Berlin and Bielefeld II in his homeland.

Wednesday will be looking to get their pre-season campaign back on track after slipping to a 2-1 defeat Grimsby Town, relegated with Quakers last season, on Saturday.

Darlington (probable): Russell; Arnison, Hone, Miller, Werling; Moore, Chandler, Brough, Gray; Wright, Hatch Sheff Wed (probable): O’Donnell; Otsemobor, Jones, Beevers, Hinds; Sedgwick, O’Connor, Miller, Boden; Johnson, Heffernan.