The presence of Jonjo Dickman in Darlington's side has coincided with the team's best results this season so the midfielder is understandably keen for the recurring theme to continue.

The former Sunderland trainee played while carrying a stomach injury when he returned to the side for the win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday - a game he marked he with goal.

The victory was Darlington's fifth of the season and Dickman has featured in all but one of them while he has tasted defeat - at home to Leyton Orient - only once in eight league matches.

After starting the first seven matches of the season Dickman suffered from injury and by the time he recovered Darlington had dropped from second to 12th but he was overlooked in favour of the club's various other midfielders.

Dickman then suffered from a stomach strain but postponed an injection aimed at solving the problem to play last Saturday and he said: "Now I'm in the team I want to keep my place, just like any player does.

"I started the first seven league games but by my own admission I didn't play anywhere near what I'm capable of. I wasn't happy with myself and I talked to the manager about it.

"I took a knock on the ankle at Mansfield and since then I haven't been able to get back in.

"I had not been playing as well as I wanted to but hopefully now I'm in the side I can keep doing well and stay in the team.

"We needed a win on Saturday and it shows you how tight the league is because we are now back up near the play-offs.

"If we can go on a good run of games it would put us right back up there."

His goal on Saturday was an impressive first-time shot following a pass from Anthony Peacock. It was only the second of his career and the other was also against Cheltenham.

The first goal against the Robins came on the final day of last season but ultimately proved academic, whereas Saturday's strike put Quakers into a 2-1 lead and Dickman said: "They must be my lucky team, they are the only team I have ever scored against!

"I had a few shots from distance early in the season but never came close to scoring. But I like to get forward, I think everybody does.

"Hopefully I'll now start to get a few more goals."

* Lee Trundle has secured a potentially lucrative image-rights deal with his club Swansea, believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain outside of the Barclays Premiership.

Following in the footsteps of some of the world's highest-profile players, Trundle will receive a percentage of all merchandising sold by the club that relates to his image.

Almost 90 per cent of all Swans' merchandise sold currently features the 29-year-old striker and the League One top scorer will now have more control over how his name is used.

* The Football Association will contact Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan after allegations of biting incidents involving Bradford striker Dean Windass.

The FA received reports of incidents involving veteran striker Windass against the Shrimpers and also against Bournemouth, with both matches in August ending in defeat for the Bantams.

Windass, 36, initially had no case to answer but Flahavan has since claimed he was not contacted by the FA for his account of the alleged biting.

Read more about the Quakers here.