When Richard Hinds’ telephone showed Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson was ringing the defender knew it was one call he could not ignore.

The former Sheffield Wednesday defender had dipped into the non-League with Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Lincoln City in a bid to gain regular football.

Hinds had never given up on ambitions of returning to the Football League, but could not have anticipated how his circumstances could change so swiftly.

Paul Huntington’s dismissal against Preston North End and subsequent three-match ban had left Yeovil Town light on defensive cover.

Within days Hinds had trained, signed until the end of the season and was preparing to face the club he had supported as a boy at Hillsborough.

Hinds said: “Yeovil is a fantastic club with a great manager, great backroom staff and great lads so there is no reason why we cannot be positive and see what happens at the end of the season.

“I was getting frustrated with how things were going (at Wednesday) so I decided to go to Lincoln and just get some games because I just love playing. Lincoln was great for me. I played ten games or so, I got my match fitness and I am here today with Yeovil.

“I spoke to the manager on Tuesday (February 2). He said to come down on Thursday and train and talk. That is what we did and as soon as a manager like Gary Johnson calls you jump at the chance because he has a great reputation. I am just delighted to be working with him.”

The 31-year-old admitted it was challenging coming straight into a new side and playing 90 minutes at one of npower League One’s promotion chasers.

However, he said he hoped to have settled better by the time Scunthorpe United visit today and ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Wycombe Wanderers.

“It always difficult going into a new side and you are struggling with names to start with,” said Hinds. “It will take a bit of time but hopefully we can put a run together and I can be part of that. We have got two big games coming up and they will be vital.”

Glovers’ assistant manager Terry Skiverton revealed Johnson had beaten League One rivals Tranmere Rovers to Hinds’ signature.

“He is an experienced player, he is 31 and he has had some good time recently at Lincoln City,” said Skiverton. “He has been training with Tranmere, but I do not think they quite had the finances to do anything with him.

“Great play from the gaffer (Johnson) by sneaking in and getting him at such short notice. For him to come up to his boyhood club is testament to his professionalism.”

Hinds added that he had seen plenty of reason to be positive from his debut, even if Wednesday shaded the clash 2-1.

“It was an unfortunate result but I thought we played really well in the first half,” he said. “We were the better side, we definitely outclassed them. As far as we were concerned we were pleased with the first half, we kept the ball well and we coped with their pressure. We should have been 2-0 up and nobody could have had any complaints about that.

“There are still a lot of positives to take from the game and from what I have seen there is no reason we cannot rise up that table.”