DAVID HODGSON last night warned Darlington's younger players to learn from their elders - or end up on the football scrapheap.

The Quakers boss' chilling message comes in the wake of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Cambridge United.

Hodgson was bitterly disappointed that the lead set by the experienced players in his side was not followed by his Quakers fledglings, who he feels shied from the responsibility at the Abbey Stadium.

"There are some players who can deal with the pressure and some that can't," said Hodgson. "The likes of Curtis Fleming, Matty Appleby and Bobby Petta know how to perform on a consistent basis, whereas others don't.

"They may be coming towards the end of their careers, but they know exactly how to handle these kind of situations.

"That's why they're still in the game at their age."

And, while Fleming, Appleby and Petta are expected to earn extended deals at the end of the season, Hodgson insists the future is not as assured for others.

"We have lads in their early 20s who could go out of the game before it has even started because they can't deal with the pressure," said Hodgson.

"Some of the younger lads do not go home, living and breathing football.

"If they did they would be better prepared on a Saturday afternoon."

Stephen Thomas will be one player hoping to prove his worth to Hodgson over the coming weeks after an injury-plagued season.

The 25-year-old made his first start since October, playing the full 90 minutes of Saturday's defeat.

"He's been out a long time and been put through a lot of work, but I thought he did well," said Hodgson. "It was unfortunate that he was left on his own at times."

Hodgson opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation to accommodate Petta's return to the side - and the recent form of Jason St Juste - playing the Dutchman in the hole behind the front two.

Petta may return to his favoured left-sided role for Saturday's trip to Mansfield after St Juste failed to build on his ninth minute assist for Clyde Wijnhard's 12th goal of the season.

"Jason created our goal but there wasn't an awful lot after that," admitted Hodgson.

"He didn't have a particularly good week on the training ground and we thought about making a change at the weekend.

"He's been good of late so we decided to go with him."

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