FRUSTRATED Darlington skipper Craig Liddle is relishing his return to first team action, but has reluctantly admitted he cannot afford to take any risks at this stage of his career.

Liddle, who turned 33 last week, is undergoing a rehabilitation programme to correct a leg problem, diagnosed during a recent visit to the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall. It was discovered Liddle had one leg 46 per cent weaker than the other.

With separate stomach and shoulder problems, Liddle's recovery has taken longer than anticipated. The former Middlesbrough man has not started a game since September 25 at Macclesfield. But due to injuries to defenders Joey Hutchinson and Curtis Fleming, Liddle had to go on at Oxford 18 days ago.

While Liddle has played through the pain barrier in the past - most notably last season when he cancelled knee surgery to play in Quakers' relegation run-in - the influential defender believes doing the same this time around may jeopardise his career.

Liddle is expected to return in a fortnight and he said: "I find it hard watching from the stands but I have to think of my long-term health and life after football. My family have been telling me that for years.

"I've been working really hard, twice a day, on my knee and hopefully I will be able to play again in a couple of weeks."

Liddle will watch Quakers entertain Tony Adams' Wycombe Wanderers at the Williamson Motors Stadium tomorrow.

Boss David Hodgson could keep faith with Matt Clarke, Brian Close and Joe Kendrick in the back three, but David McGurk will be hoping to force his way back into Hodgson's plans after impressing for the reserves on Wednesday.

* Today is the last opportunity for supporters to buy reduced priced tickets for tomorrow's game. The ticket office is open 9am-6pm.