Gary Hart admits he is loving life back in the manager’s plans.

And he is convinced those cold Wednesday nights playing reserve team football before a handful of fans at Lewes have a lot to do with it.

The second string’s top scorer has been delighted to see Russell Slade keeping a close eye on Combination fixtures since his arrival as manager.

His pay-off came at Hereford on Tuesday when he came off the bench for his first League One action since September and almost immediately played a big part in what turned out to be the winning goal, by Lloyd Owusu.

Hart said of Slade: “It’s nice when you play well in the reserves and get noticed. In recent years it hasn’t been like that. It’s good he has given me my chance. I’m playing well so why not use me?

“He’s there at every reserve team game, he’s watching, his feedback is unbelievable. He’s watching, he talks to everyone.

“I think he is doing well for us.”

With Glenn Murray and Nicky Forster out injured, Hart could have a big part to play as part of the squad for the run-in after confirming to Slade his play-anywhere days are, ideally, at an end.

He is now back-up to the front pairing of Owusu and Craig Davies, both of whom shone at Edgar Street.

Hart said: “I had an inkling I’d be on the bench because I was the only forward there to do that.

“I’ve made them aware I want to be playing up front and nowhere else. I got my little chance and thought I did all right. Dean White told me to hold the ball up and just knock things off like I usually do in the reserves.

“That’s what I did and Lloyd just fed off it. It sort of clicked.

“I know Lloyd from way back having played against him.

“He was working very hard and we all noticed that.

“I’m surprised he got on to the lay-off with his old legs! But it was a great finish.

“I thought Craig worked really hard as well. It isn’t easy going up and down that hill but he did well and was a bit disappointed to come off but nobody should like coming off.

“I shook his hand and took over.

“I’d like to be there and thereabouts now.

“It’s a long way to come from the reserves to the first team in terms of fitness and that’s what I’ve got to work on.

“It’s coming along. My knee and everything else is absolutely fine.

“Any footballer knows the first ten mintues getting into a game, you’re blowing. You need that second wind.

“Once I got that I felt all right.

“I’m over the moon I played and over the moon I set up the goal.”

Tuesday’s game was, in theory, a relegation six-pointer.

In practice, the depressed feel around Edgar Street leading up to kick-off gave off the feel of a club already resigned to relegation.

The home team’s performance did nothing to change that impression.

So Albion can’t get too euphoric over beating the Bulls.

Yes, it was a purposeful performance, worthy of a bigger margin than 2-1 and for which they deserve credit.

But they basically did what was needed and nothing more. The future will be decided over the next six games.

“I’m not thinking about that at all,” Hart said.

“One of the things I’ve learned over the years, from previous managers, is take one game at a time.

“I know it’s an old cliche but it’s true.

“It’s no good planning on winning four games from now.

“You’ve got to win the next one and then the next one.

“We were buzzing afterwards, people were dancing around and that’s what we needed.

“Now the confidence will grow. We needed that win to build on.

“We know what’s going on, we’re not stupid. We know we’re close to going down.”