NICK Crittenden’s undoubted football pedigree was clear for all to see when he came on against Frome in midweek, and the Magpies’ midfielder feels he can still “do a job” when needed.

The energy and enthusiasm assistant manager Crittenden showed for the game as a second-half substitute on Tuesday night belied the 36-year-old’s veteran status.

He couldn’t quite help Dorchester to three points – they had to settle for one in a goalless draw – but the former Yeovil playmaker insists he does not plan on hanging up his boots just yet.

Crittenden is set to be part of a county town squad that will face up to Dunstable at the Avenue tomorrow (3pm), though Charlie Davis (hamstring) is expected to sit out his second successive game.

Assessing how much longer he feels his playing career can last, Crittenden said: “I work hard and I feel fit, but I know I’m 37 soon and my time is limited.

“I feel I can do a job when required and I still think I’ve got 90 minutes in me.

“I don’t think I’ve got it in me to do 90 minutes on Saturday and then again on a Tuesday though.

“We’ll have to pick and choose the games, but I still very much want to be part of the playing squad.

“As long as I’ve still got something to offer and the manager tells me that then I’ll be willing to carry on playing.

“Sometimes if I’ve had two or three bad games then I’ll ask myself ‘have I had enough?’ “But there’s always something that stops me throwing the towel in, and as long as that carries on I’ll carry on playing.”

Crittenden praised the job Mark Jermyn is doing as Dorchester player-manager, and also told Echosport that he is loving his assistant role.

“It’s a tough job at any level of football but I’m enjoying it,” he added.

“You have to deal with certain situations that, as a player, you don’t realise the management have to deal with.

“I’m helping Jem, passing my experience on to the players and helping them learn.

“I know Mark is coping really well and I think we work well together.

“We’re just looking forward to whatever the season holds for us really.

“We’ve started as we want to and a win on Saturday would put us ahead of schedule.

“Come Christmas we want something to play for, that’s the plan.”