STEVE Davies is desperate to rid himself of the reputation as City’s “super sub.”

The striker salvaged a point against Rochdale at Valley Parade on Saturday with a second-half header.

It was a third goal in four outings for Davies – all coming off the bench.

Having missed nearly three months mid-season with a knee injury, he is now impatient to see more action.

He said: “Obviously I’m grateful to be getting involved but it’s not what I want to be doing.

“I want to be playing and hopefully the more minutes I get on the pitch, the more goals will follow.

“I’ve had a frustrating time here with getting the injury just as I was picking up good form. But I’ll never doubt that I will score goals as long as I’m getting the chances.

“If I’m not getting the chances, then I’ll start to worry. I’ve been getting them, I’ve been missing them but now thankfully they are going in.”

Davies came on at half-time for James Hanson, who did not reappear after taking a whack above the eye in a clash with Rochdale’s Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

It was the 28-year-old’s longest run-out since he last started for City against Bury in October.

Davies added: “It is frustrating but you have to show your frustration in the right way. There’s no point in me sulking and coming on and not performing.

“I’ve had many chats with the gaffer. He knows that I want to be playing and when he calls upon me, I’ll be there.

“I’m pleased to be scoring, that’s my job. I’m a little bit disappointed with only a draw after (winning) the last two games but if you’d offered us seven points from the three this week, we’d have taken that.

“We weren’t brilliant but speaking to a couple of lads afterwards, those are the sort of games in the last couple of years we’d have probably lost.

“Over the two games we won we showed the ability we’ve got. Saturday was about guts and putting your body in where it hurts.

“It’s another point that keeps us creeping up the table.

“We’re a confident team. We’ve got a great squad – look at the lads who weren’t involved.

“They’ve got every chance of being involved in the starting 11, let alone the 18.”

Rory McArdle celebrated the birth of baby Alexander by scoring City’s first equaliser in the 2-2 draw, knocking in Tony McMahon’s low cross.

Then Davies followed up his late winner against Fleetwood and goal at Peterborough with a thumping header from a McMahon corner.

Assistant boss Steve Parkin said: “Steve’s got the bit between his teeth and looks a real goal threat now.

“He’s had a moan up (about not playing) but he’s a Scouser and that’s what they do! In general he’s been fine.

“It’s important going into the business end of the season that you have people who can make an impact coming off the bench.

“We probably fell foul a little bit last season of not having that. But this year we’ve got some firepower coming on that can certainly change games.

“If you’re going to be successful, you can’t do it on 18 players. You need competition for every place.

“We’ve got a good squad to call on if anything happens.”