Morecambe manager is looking forward to their home matches this week.

Morecambe boss Adam Lakeland says his players need to build on the positives from Saturday’s away win as they face two games on home soil this week, writes DEREK QUINN.

The Shrimps picked up only their second National League North win on the road this season with a 3-1 victory at Merthyr Town.

After three consecutive matches away from home in all competitions, the Shrimps will be looking to back up five straight wins at the Halo Aerospace Stadium when they play Darlington tonight (7.45pm) and Scarborough Athletic on Saturday.

This evening’s game with Darlington will be the second time the clubs have met this month, with the Shrimps having won their FA Cup third qualifying round meeting on October 3.

Lakeland said: “We want to win every game of football that we play and prior to the two recent away defeats (Worksop Town and AFC Rushden and Diamonds), we were in a decent place and looked like we were going from strength to strength.

“Football has the habit of snacking you in the chops every now and again though and we have had that in the past two weeks.

“My belief in myself, in my staff and in my players has never wilted and it will be good for us to get back home in front of our supporters.

“When we are at home the onus has to be on is to take the game to the other team and we have to back Saturday’s result up now.”

One positive for Lakeland has been the return to fitness of some key players with Liam Hogan, Jake Cain and Taelor O’Kane welcome returns to the starting line up at Merthyr and all three of them making an impact.

He added: “Any team that loses key players struggles; they generally have a dip.

“Pretty much week after week, we have been taking blow after blow and that seems to have been forgotten about a little bit.

“We have our club captain (Will Smith) out injured and we had Liam Hogan out injured.

“You could see what he means to us on Saturday because he was outstanding.

“I have said it since day one and I stand firm on it when I say that when we have everyone from our group fit and available, we are as good as anything in this league.

“Hopefully now the Gods will be on our side for a little while, where we can have a run of people staying fit with the squad pushing each other to improve and we can go on and win games.”

Lakeland did add to his squad last week with the loan signing of 18-year-old striker Marcus Neill from Sunderland.

The son of former Everton and Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill has joined on an initial one-month deal.

Lakeland said: “He works hard, he stretches the channels and is a good finisher who can play through the middle or off the side as well.

“He is a talented lad, but he is only 18 and only been with us for a couple of days and I am sure he will be ready to play a part when he is called on.”