FEW Darlington players have spent as much time on the pitch this season as Rob Purdie, but nobody has played in as many positions as the man for whom the title Mr Versatile could have been invented.

Over 15 games the utility man has played in four different roles: both full-back positions and each of the wide midfield berths.

Purdie is currently playing on the right side of midfield and in the last two games has created goals with precise crosses. He will continue there today at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Last season’s fixture was one of the few missed during a campaign when Purdie experienced a similar situation, manager Dave Penney slotting him in wherever was required.

But far from being considered a handy stop-gap, Penney values Purdie’s contribution highly and even says it could play to the 26-year-old’s strengths.

Penney, who will field an unchanged line-up today, said: “It’s great for a manager to have a player capable of playing wide right and left.

“He’s very versatile and I think he thrives on it. He probably gets bored playing in the same position week after week and it freshens him up by moving him around occasionally.

“He’s been excellent for us.

The only game he missed was Watford, but he still came on as a sub.”

That Carling Cup tie at Vicarage Road remains the only match of 15 league and cup games Purdie has not started.

Only captain Steve Foster is an ever-present.

But Purdie is one of five to have been selected for all 12 league matches, while a further three have missed only a solitary game. All of which indicates that Penney has been fielding a settled side which, he says, is a factor behind a gradual upturn in fortunes.

A run of one defeat in seven and some decent displays have instilled a belief that Darlington are gaining momentum.

They aim to keep it going today against the Daggers, who Quakers managed to beat lose 3-2 at home last April, despite at one stage losing 2-0.

“We have a fairly settled side so that is helping,” said Penney. “We have been making one or two changes only because of a suspension or an injury.

“I was at Bury v Rotherham on Tuesday and noticed Bury have six or seven players that have started every game. If you can get some kind of consistency in your selection that helps the players get to know each other and the system you play.

“We’re not far off Bury because we have a lot of players that have played every game.

“In an ideal world you’d play 4-4-2 every week and keep the same team but it doesn’t work like that.

“Sometimes you look at the opposition and might want to change your formation or personnel if you see something you can exploit.

“Midway through the second half on Monday we were about to put Purdie on the left to help Ryan Valentine out in defending Joe Colbeck. But then Omar Daley came on as a sub for Bradford on Purdie’s side of the pitch so we left him where he was.

“Everybody has been excellent over the last three or fours games so there’s no reason to change anything unless an injury crops up. They didn’t look tired at all on Monday, they were bright and sharp.

“They are enjoying it at the moment – no footballer ever has an injury if they can help it when the team is doing well.

“It’s all coming together and everybody is enjoying it.

It’s difficult to pick out individuals for praise because we’re delighted with all of them and long may it continue.”

Repeatedly selecting the same line-up has meant, conversely, that the same players are either being left on the bench or in the stands.

Adam Proudlock, David Poole and Adam Griffin were all first choices at the start of the season but have become fringe players.

But Penney said: “I’ve had nobody come knocking on my door.

“As a manager, when your side is winning it is easy because you don’t have to justify your selection as everybody is on top of their game.”

■ Darlington will discover who their FA Cup first round opponents are when the draw is made tomorrow at 1pm on ITV.