Ian Burchnall hails Notts County's 'outstanding' unsung hero as incredible stat emerges

Ian Burchnall has hailed Matt Palmer's contribution to Notts County's season and says his consistency has been "outstanding".

The former Burton Albion midfielder is already a favourite for the player of the season award after a string of high-quality performances.

Incredibly, Palmer has played every minute for Notts in the National League this term which underlines his reliability in what has been an impressive campaign so far.

And Notts head coach Burchnall says the midfielder has been a huge asset as they look to return to the Football League.

"Physically it's not so easy especially when games come thick and fast, but we have had periods early in the season when we played Torquay and Wrexham with only one day in between.

"To be able to get through those games is testament to him and at the level that he's performed.

"That has been outstanding, really. It's really important.

"I knew that when we were signing my Matty, and we spoke quite a lot before he signed, that I'd seen the skill set that he had, and knew that it was going to be hugely valuable to us.

"I think he has been. That consistency of performance has been outstanding."

Palmer has largely been the conductor of the orchestra this season and will be hoping to inspire the Magpies to a fourth straight win on Tuesday.

Halifax lie in wait at Meadow Lane with both sides currently involved in a thrilling race for promotion to the Football League.

Notts go into the game on the back of an excellent performance against Eastleigh at the weekend which Burchnall hailed as their most "complete" of the season.

But he is expecting a vastly different test against Pete Wild's side in what will be the sides' third meeting of the campaign.

Both sides have a win apiece with