DARLINGTON midfielder Ian Clark may be on the fringe of manager David Hodgson's first-team plans, but he believes he can use that to his advantage.

Clark has been a bit-part player so far this season, making eight of his 14 appearances as a substitute.

But after coming off the bench to claim match-winning goals against Grimsby and Oxford, the 29-year-old is happy with his role.

Despite scoring at the Kassam Stadium six days earlier, Clark remained on bench duty for Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Bury.

Clark replaced Stephen Thomas as a 50th minute substitute at the weekend and he said: "It's a situation where you go on and you know you have nothing to lose.

"We were two-nil down against Bury so we had to go for it and be positive.

"I know I have nothing to prove because the manager knows what I can do."

Clark's cause has not been helped by the recent arrivals of former Premiership trio Craig Hignett, Alun Armstrong and Clyde Wijnhard.

And with Craig Liddle and Mark Convery both warming up the bench with Clark at the weekend, he added: "We've got lads now sitting in the stands who were regulars last year, so it just shows the kind of strength-in-depth we have in the team.

"The manager has players on the bench, like myself and Mark Convery, who he can call upon if things aren't going our way."

Clark is likely to remain on bench duty when Quakers take on Notts County at Meadow Lane tomorrow night.

"Hopefully Saturday was a blip and we can put things straight on Tuesday night," said Clark.

"The manager knows we're all bending over backwards to get back into the team and if others aren't performing we will get our chance. But as long as the lads are doing well then I'm happy for them to keep me out of the team.

"There is an abundance of self-belief in the squad and with that I'm sure we'll do well."

And in contrast to last season, Clark is delighted to be involved in the club's renaissance.

He said: "We've came a long way in such a short space of time and it's up to us to make sure the club continues to move forward.

"There's a brilliant feeling at the moment, but it's important we take one step at a time."

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