David Hodgson paid tribute to the courage of Matt Clarke after the big defender led from the back during Darlington's away win on Saturday.

Alongside the equally impressive Shelton Martis, the captain's commitment meant he was a shining example to his team-mates at Oxford United, yet just days earlier his place in the team was in jeopardy due to injury.

Against Grimsby Town last Tuesday, Clarke was replaced by David McGurk after leaving the field in severe pain after suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Initially the 25-year-old was not expected to be available for the weekend's trip to the Kassam Stadium but after discovering he had not suffered a break, he was keen to play and on Saturday enjoyed an outstanding game.

Hodgson was delighted with his attitude and said: "It was an opportunity that some players would have taken to get out of the firing line after sustaining that injury on Tuesday.

"But not with Matt, not a chance, he is far too determined to step aside like that.

"There was never any doubt that he would pull out of this game.

"Just four days earlier he was lying on the floor with what could have been a fractured cheekbone but he still went out there today, played fantastically - that is Matt for you."

Clarke did slip up once in the second half when he dwelled too long on the ball after receiving a Joe Kendrick throw-in and it almost allowed Oxford in.

The error was his only blemish, though it was a trademark Clarke mistake and Hodgson was not quite so complimentary about the blip.

"He asks me when is he going to get praise, well I give him the captain's armband every week and he plays every week so that's plenty of praise as far as I am concerned," he said.

"I just want him to cut out the stupid errors that sometimes let him down."

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