JAY Spearing and Josh Vela have been told to stay patient in their wait for a first-team break at Wanderers.

Neil Lennon says only the form of Mark Davies and Neil Danns in recent weeks has prevented him from mixing things up in the midfield.

Spearing has not started a game since mid-August, while Vela has also made just three starts, the last of which came at MK Dons a month ago.

Saturday’s dismal second-half show at Huddersfield could convince the Wanderers boss to make changes with Brighton visiting the Macron this Saturday.

“Davies and Danns have played well over the piece,” explaining Vela and Spearing’s lack of game time.

“Jay finds himself unlucky not to start a game but he’s very much part of the squad.

“Jay played well against Derby, not so well the week after against Middlesbrough, but he’s there, he’s part of the squad.”

Lennon opted to use Stephen Dobbie in behind a central striker at the John Smith’s Stadium instead of pushing Davies into his preferred number 10 role.

“We wanted Dobbie in there as more of a goal threat because we just had the one striker,” he said.

“When we went 2-1 down we had to keep him on the pitch just in case he nicked a goal for us.”