JAMIE Devitt may have fallen down the Grimsby Town pecking order – but the winger could still have a big part to play this campaign.
The Irishman is now in his second stint with the Mariners, having joined on loan from Hull City again in January.
The 22-year-old established himself as a real fans' favourite at Blundell Park during his previous spell – in 2010 – despite relegation from the Football League at the end of that season.
Devitt has struggled to repeat that individual form this time around and has been omitted from the squad for Town's last two matches.
However, joint boss Paul Hurst believes the youngster has much more in his locker.
He told the Telegraph: "I don't think he's got to where he'd like to be – he would probably say that. But he is a talented player and that's why we brought him here.
"We've brought Cleveland Taylor in and he's only had two starts to judge him on, so he has probably moved ahead of Jamie.
"Then we've got Marcus (Marshall) and Joe (Colbeck), and on Wednesday we went for Frankie (Artus) to makes us a bit more solid and competitive in there.
"Jamie has just found himself down the pecking order.
"He probably had his best game for us against Gateshead, while against Barrow he didn't have his best day. Then again, I'm not sure how many of them did!
"He's still very much part of the squad but it's about picking the people that we feel are right at this moment.
"The opposition comes into that and the need to keeping freshening things up."
As a 19-year-old, Devitt delivered a string of top displays during his initial loan spell in Cleethorpes.
And many Mariners fans will remember his tears on the final day of that campaign, as Town slipped out of the league at Burton Albion.
"It's difficult when you've done that well for a team before," added Hurst.
"We weren't there but it was a team that ultimately got relegated. Was he a bright spark in a struggling team?
"I would guess that was probably part of the case. He was younger than a lot of the players there, enthusiastic, and it was his first real taste of first-team football I would suggest. That excitement can certainly come into it."
The co-manager continued: "I'm sure he's been disappointed not to have been in the squad for the last couple of games and been involved, but things can change quickly."
