Dartford midfielder Samir Carruthers has earned the respect of his team-mates through his on-field performances.

Carruthers helped the Darts extend their unbeaten Isthmian Premier league run to 11 games with a 1-0 win at Folkestone on Saturday.

He’s played a big part on and off the pitch since returning from an injury that saw him miss the start of the season.

But manager Ady Pennock insisted he’s only a major character in the squad because he’s delivering the goods when it matters most.

“If Samir wasn’t playing well then the voice in the changing room would be no good - I don’t think anyone would look at him!” said Pennock.

“But he’s playing well on the pitch, he’s got a good aura about him and he has that experience. He’s got a great brain on him and has played at the highest level, he’s been fantastic for us.

“He’s been great, he’s good in the changing room and has a voice in there which I like. On the pitch he’s been leading by example.

“He missed pre-season which was so important for him. He came back but even then he was still not up to the level that I expected him to be.

“But he’s worked hard and he looks like he’s really enjoying his football which is what we all want, we want to see everyone enjoying it.

“He sets up so many goals and chances for everybody. He’s very influential but he’ll say that he’s got players around him that are so honest and work so hard for him. They give him that time and space but he’s done very well.”

Dartford’s busy Christmas schedule sees them play twice in three days - at home to Cray Wanderers (1pm) on Boxing Day and at Canvey Island on Saturday (3pm).

It’s a tough ask for part-time players but Pennock won’t use the schedule as an excuse.

“It is what it is,” said Pennock. “We haven’t got the biggest squad in the world so we’ll be using all of them. You need that little bit of luck. If you keep winning games then you’ll play every day.

“It’s going to be tough on the legs but it’s the same for everybody. We’ve got to get on with it, there won’t be any moaning from us.

“When you’re winning games, you’d play every day. When I was a kid, I played every day. They get paid to do what they do, we’d play every day as kids so why not do it when you’re older?

“You want to keep playing. There will be no excuses from us whatever happens.”