'The con is on' boasts the adverts for BBC1 drama, The Hustle and since mid-January the same phrase could be used to describe a development at the Reynolds Arena - but it's nothing to do with any Greece-based businessmen declaring an interest in buying the club.

Don't fret, there's been no dodgy dealing at Darlington, but there has been the shock of Mark Convery being plunged back into the team for the first time since April 2002 - he hasn't let anyone down and now he's on the verge of his 50th game in a black and white shirt.

Before his present run, his last start almost two years ago was half of a meaningless end-of-season match at home to Plymouth and Convery's next action came six months later when given the last three minutes of an LDV Vans Trophy defeat at Stockport. Hardly a career high.

Promisingly, the first five months of this campaign saw eight appearances as a sub which, although a huge improvement on last season, is still far from satisfactory for the Newcastle-born midfielder.

But since David Hodgson's return times have changed for the reinvigorated little number 16 who looks no older than his squad number and runs around the pitch with the same enthusiasm of the team mascots that rival him for height.

In January, and having lost five of the last six matches, Hodgson surprised everyone by handing Convery a start at Kidderminster and has kept him in the starting XI for eight games running.

Convery admits his time in the wilderness was difficult, citing Hodgson's return as the sole reason for his phoenix-like re-emergence which saw him make his 21st start and 49th appearance in all competitions at Macclesfield.

"I was stuck in the reserves, getting older and it felt like I wasn't getting anywhere in my career but since the new manger came in he's given everyone at the club a lift," he said.

"I always wanted to get back in the team and if it didn't happen here I'd have tried somewhere else but I never thought about packing the game in.

"I've always been a good trainer, I've always enjoyed training so at the beginning of the week I'd be optimistic, thinking I might have a chance of playing on the Saturday. Then it would come to the end of the week when you find out you're not in the team so you're pushed aside and that's when you can feel left out.

"And on matchdays you're sat in the stand and you just want to be involved. I was worried after Kidderminster because after that we had a free weekend so I was wondering if that was going to give injured players a chance to get back in, but the gaffer has said that it doesn't matter who you are, if you deserve to play you'll be in the team.

"At one time at this club, once Ryan's (Valentine) ban was finished, he'd have been straight back in the team but it's not like that anymore and that's one change that's benefited everyone. It was frustrating for Ryan but everybody knows if someone's playing well in your position then they won't be dropped. It keeps you on your toes."