Harriers defender Lee Baker insists it's his own fault that he has been missing out on first-team action.

The flying full-back has not started a match since his sending off in Harriers' FA Cup third qualifying round defeat to Fleetwood Town in October, despite starting the first 18 games of the season.

Since returning from his three-match suspension, the 20-year-old has also struggled to dislodge on-loan Peterborough man Daniel Andrew from the left side of Harriers' defence.

He said: “It’s obviously frustrating for me not to be playing because I’ve always been used to playing, whether it be while I was at West Brom in the youth and reserve teams or here, because I’ve never really had a long spell out of the team until now apart from when I was injured.

“It’s a new experience for me and not a nice one, but it’s one that I can look back on and learn from and it will make me appreciate playing again all the more if and when I break into the team.

“I’m young and I’ll learn from the mistake. I apologised to the lads and the gaffer for letting them down.

“It’s over and done with now and I’m just concentrating on getting back into the team and winning football matches again.

"Hopefully I’ll be back playing sooner rather than later.”

Having lost his place in the starting line-up, Baker has been working hard in an attempt to win his place back and has targeted the upcoming Christmas period to regain a regular first team spot.

Baker has already been reassured by Harriers manager Mark Yates that he will get an opportunity to prove himself.

He said: “Me and the gaffer have spoken and he’s told me to keep having the same attitude, keep my head up and I will get my chance.

“I’ve been doing a bit of extra work with the physio and a few extra gym sessions to try and keep my fitness up which is really all I can do.”

“During the Christmas period the games come thick and fast so maybe I will get a chance then. It’s a squad game and it’s a period when the squad will be needed.”

Whether or not Baker wins his place back during that period will depend hugely on whether or not Andrews' loan spell at Aggborough is extended beyond the second month.

The Peterborough youngster has impressed during his spell at Harriers and has shown glimpses of why he is rated so highly by his parent club.

Despite having to settle for a place on the bench, Baker has nothing but praise for his deputy, saying: “Danny’s a top lad and good player who’s done really well since he’s come in and it’s been down to his good form that I’m not playing.

“You can’t change a winning team and especially a team that’s beat the likes of Kettering and Oxford and kept clean sheets along the way.”

However, good results against Oxford and Kettering have not hidden the fact that Kidderminster’s current league position belies what they were expected to achieve at the start of the season.

Sitting mid-table in the Blue Square Premier, Harriers’ have a lot to do to achieve a play-off spot come the end of the season but Baker is confident it can be achieved.

With the longest unbeaten run this season being only four games, consistency is the key according to Baker.

“We have good players and are capable of reaching the play-offs come the end of the season. We have beat teams like Oxford and Kettering but dropped points against the lower teams” he said.

“Consistency is the key, and if we can get a good, consistent run together we will climb the table and I know we have the players capable of doing so.