It was not long ago that Darlington's bid to reach the play-offs looked all but doomed, but now they are emulating the phoenix-like return of left-back Joe Kendrick, Quakers' own comeback kid.

In the summer, 12 months after signing Kendrick on a free transfer, manager David Hodgson made it clear the 22-year-old did not feature in his plans.

He said as much last season by selecting Kendrick just three times after Christmas and then in the summer allowed him to go on trial to Dunfermline, while Hamilton also showed an interest.

Despite turning down their advances, the Dubliner did not play a single minute of first-team football during Quakers' first 18 matches of the season and a move away from the 96.6TFM Darlington Arena appeared increasingly likely.

But six months into the season Kendrick remains at Darlington and is now well-established in a team which is enjoying its best run of the season. The miserable form of September, October and November (two wins in 16) has well and truly been put to bed.

Kendrick's upturn in fortunes almost mirrors Darlington's and a win at Oxford United today, where the left-back is expected to start his tenth consecutive game - his longest run in the team since he came to the club from 1860 Munich in 2004 - could take Quakers into the play-off positions.

He admits he almost left the club in the summer but now Kendrick is focused on a play-off push. He said: "At the start of the season I was not in the manager's plans and, as the manager would tell you, I could have left if I had wanted to.

"But I did not really want to leave. I have a contract until the end of this season and I wanted to be back in the team.

"I always needed a run of games in my position to improve and he has finally given me that. I have done OK but I feel I can do a lot better too.

"I am looking to get better, I know I can improve 100 per cent. When I was playing in Germany I was out injured for four or five months and since then, the last couple of years, I would not say I have been at my best.

"A long injury knocks you back, it knocks your confidence and takes you a while to get going again.

"Like any player, playing once or twice is OK, but you need a run to get some consistency together.

"So it is great to be playing again and back in the team."

Kendrick's return has coincided with Darlington's upturn in form as well as an upsurge in confidence among the squad.

The draw with title-chasing Grimsby Town on Tuesday means it is now only one defeat in eight games, though even in the dying seconds against the Mariners, Darlington were searching for a match-winning goal with Kendrick making a late forward run.

That belief, which Hodgson has often talked of after Quakers have grabbed points with late goals, means they head into games fearlessly and Kendrick says he expects Darlington to repeat their win at the Kassam Stadium of last season.

"We are definitely confident of getting three points at Oxford," he said. "Every game we go into we are confident of winning. The best team we have played this season is Wycombe Wanderers and we drew, so there is no reason why we cannot beat any side in the division.

"I played at Oxford last season when we won 2-1 so let's do it again, who says we can't?

"We were going for the three points against Grimsby, there's no doubt about that because we are confident enough to beat any team in this league.

"We want to get in the play-offs, that's our main objective, and you only do that by winning."

Victory for ninth-placed Quakers could move them into the top seven for the first time since September if Peterborough and Wrexham fail to win today.

Oxford are seeking their first double of the season, having recorded a 2-1 win in the North-East back in September.

However, Hodgson is confident his side will avenge a result, which was their last defeat on home soil.

"They beat us at our place, but I'm certain we'll beat Oxford on Saturday," vowed Hodgson.