Steve Staunton made the surprising decision to only name 6 substitutes for the game against Burton Albion at the Northern Echo Arena today. Quakers left Mark Convery, Jeff Smith and Paul Arnison out of their match day squad eventhough all 3 players are believed to have been fit.
Darlington have not been at their best in the last few games and Paul Arnison was left out of the side who took on Barnet last weekend after a poor display at Hereford. Neither Convery or Jeff Smith has a great game at Underhill last week and it appears that Darlo boss Staunton has decided that all 3 players are not in his first team plans at this moment in time. Leaving 3 senior players out of the match day squad when your side does not have the full complement of substitutes is a brave move to make by the clubs management team.
It is possible that Staunton and his assistant Kevin Richardson decided to take such action in an attempt to show the players that sub standard performances will not be accepted at the Arena. Since Staunton took over from Colin Todd the likes of Rikki Bains, David Knight and James Bennett have had little involvement in first team affairs and it now appears that the entire senior squad at the Arena could alter before the 2009/10 campaign comes to an end.
Staunton has decided to give the young players at the club a chance, 3 local youngsters were included in the starting line up today and another 3 of the clubs youth team graduates were on the bench. This demonstrates that promising young players at Darlo will be given a chance to impress under the current regime. Teenage striker Curtis Main saw little first team action early on this season under previous gaffer Colin Todd however since the Tyneside born youngster has been given an opportunity he has looked just as effective as any of the other front men who have played for Quakers so far this term.
Corey Barnes and Josh Gray have also impressed in their outings with the senior team this season. Barnes has looked accomplished at right full back despite the fact he is much more used to plying his trade in the middle of the park. Gray offers some trickery and creativity down the left flank and both he and Barnes look set to be heavily involved as Quakers young squad look to climb away from the foot of League 2.
