MATT CLARKE believes the imminent return of Craig Liddle could not come at a better time, as Darlington prepare to try and cement their place in the play-off zone.

Liddle has resumed training after undergoing a double hernia operation last month.

The skipper has missed eight games during his recovery but is pencilled in for a first-team return at the end of the month.

And as sixth-placed Quakers aim to strengthen their position in the League Two promotion pack, Clarke is relishing the return of his defensive partner.

"Craig is a massive influence on the pitch and it will be great to have him coming back at such an important time," said Clarke who this week attracted the attentions of Chester City.

"We need as many players fit as possible in the next couple of months and out of anybody Craig is one player you need in your squad.

"He has been a big miss, but I think the lads have coped pretty well."

Chester's interest was rebuffed so Clarke will be part of the back line during tomorrow's trip to promotion rivals, Northampton Town.

Quakers have won five of their last nine games, and despite being held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Oxford United last weekend, travel to Sixfields with confidence.

"It was disappointing not to take three points against Oxford, but we have to forget that now and concentrate on the Northampton game," said Clarke.

"There's a long way to go, but if we can maintain our form we will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."

With five away wins under their belt in League Two this season, Quakers have already surpassed the number of victories they enjoyed on their travels during the last campaign, when they didn't win away until February.

However, Clarke has warned that their impressive away form will count for nothing if they fail to make home advantage count.

After winning three and drawing one of their last five games at the Williamson Motors Stadium, Quakers are showing signs of improvement at home and Clarke said: "If we are going to make an impact in the promotion places then it's important our home form is good.

"There's a lot more expectation at home and I think we have felt that added bit of pressure in games.

"But we seem to be getting to grips with it now and hopefully we can build on our recent results."

Midfielder Neil Maddison will return tomorrow. The 35-year-old has been back in training this week after missing the Oxford game with an ankle injury while eight-goal striker Clyde Wijnhard will return to training today and is expected to be fit for tomorrow.

* Quakers' chances of adding another former Middlesbough player to the ranks have increased. Dean Gordon has been training with the club since his release from Grimsby but looked set for a move to the Scottish Premier League with Dundee.

However, Dark Blues' boss Jim Duffy admitted: "He was here and we had agreed a deal in principle, but he showed a bit of indecision and that told me he was not in the right frame of mind to play for us," he explained.

"It's disappointing, but these things happen in football and it is important that we only have players here who are totally committed to the job."

* Grimsby chairman John Fenty insists the debt-ridden club will only go into administration ''as a last resort''.

The League Two club still owe £720,000 in unpaid tax, although Fenty revealed the board and the club's Supporters' Trust hope to resubmit a payment plan after their first proposal was rejected by the Inland Revenue.

He said: ''The objective is to repay our debts and then to progress in a stable manner. If it came to it then administration would be an option but that is far from our thoughts.''

Fenty admits that the club faces a bleak future on and off the field.

Read more about the Quakers here.