Harvey Rodgers was preferred to Callum Johnson at right back on Saturday - with boss John Coleman believing him to be reaping the benefits of a loan spell at Hartlepool.

The 22-year-old spent a month with the National League club, after signing on loan in December, but has established himself in the Stanley side of late.

Rodgers has started five consecutive matches, including Saturday’s defeat to Fleetwood Town on Saturday where he was moved to his favoured right back role after a spell on the left.

That saw regular right back Johnson on the bench, with Coleman happy with the contribution of Rodgers since returning from his loan spell.

“He’s done well,” the Reds boss said.

“It was difficult for him last year when he came back because Callum was doing ever so well at right back.

“I know he can play centre half as well, and has done for us recently, but the spell he had out, not playing, affected him and him and his confidence badly.

“I think going out on loan has really helped him.

“He got back playing football and back enjoying his football and I think Harvey will be a smashing player.”

Rodgers, who joined from Hull City a year ago after an initial loan spell, played just four times for Hartlepool.

But Coleman says the full back is an example of how effective the loan market can be, having struggled to even make the matchday squad before his loan switch.

“Sometimes it can, and sometimes it can’t,” he added.

“Sometimes you can go out on loan and not play.

“I would never ever try and insist that a player who goes out on loan has to play because I know myself the difficulties in management.

“You are only trying to win games of football, you’re not trying to win friends.

“You can’t dictate what other manager’s do with your player, so if you give him one of your players you have to trust him.

“He’s gone and done well, they wanted to keep him, but we decided to bring him back and he’s done all right for us.”

Coleman made alterations against the Cod Army on Saturday, including leaving out Johnson and on-loan midfielder Dan Barlaser, with recalls for international pair Dimi Evtimov and Paul Smyth.

Explaining those calls, he said: “Every time you make a decision it’s difficult, but you’re only doing it for the good of the cause.

“Both players accepted it in the nature that it was intended.

“They knew I was trying to shake it up and get a response.

“I thought we were better defensively, maybe not as creative as I would like to have been, but you can’t have everything.”

Stanley face Sunderland tomorrow as they look to move clear of the relegation zone.

They are just two points above fourth bottom Walsall in what is a tightly packed division.

Though Coleman says that is neither a comfort, or concern, as he looks to secure third tier football at the Wham Stadium for a second successive year in the remaining eight League One fixtures.

“I maybe of a different breed but I try not and focus on the teams around us,” the Reds boss said.

“I look at the results obviously but the main one you have to focus on is yourselves.

“If we don’t get it right ourselves then we have no-one to blame but ourselves.”