DARLINGTON winger Neil Wainwright is facing another week on the sidelines after limping out of yesterday's reserves game.
Wainwright was substituted with 20 minutes remaining as Neil Maddison's second string were held to a 2-2 draw by York City at the Williamson Motors Stadium. Only a last-minute penalty save from former Quakers keeper Chris Porter denied Maddison's men their first win of the season.
But it was a recurrence of a hamstring strain to Wainwright which will have caused manager David Hodgson - watching from the stands - most concern.
Hodgson had hoped to run the rule over Wainwright ahead of Saturday's visit of Wycombe Wanderers. However, the 26-year-old is unlikely to figure after pulling up following an innocuous challenge by York full-back Michael Staley.
Gavin Parkin (49mins) cancelled out Robbie Haw's opener on the stroke of half-time for the visitors, before substitute Dale Mendum headed Quakers in front in the 63rd minute.
Middlesbrough-born striker Lev Yalcin - who trained with Quakers earlier this season - equalised for York minutes after the restart, before Porter produced a stunning late save to earn York a share of the spoils.
The draw means both side's remain in the bottom two, having failed to record a single victory in the Pontins Holiday League this season.
However, Hodgson will have taken plenty of food for thought from an entertaining encounter, in which David McGurk and left-back Chris Mason both impressed.
With Craig Liddle, Joey Hutchinson and Curtis Fleming all sidelined, McGurk - who recently returned from a loan spell with the Minstermen - will be included in Saturday's squad.
Liddle and Fleming are expected to return in a fortnight's time, while Hutchinson is out until April with cruciate knee ligament damage.
Hodgson has yet to make a decision on Canadian international Tyler Hughes. The Toronto Lynx defender has impressed on trial with Quakers but Hodgson is keen to asses his other defensive options before deciding on Hughes' future.
Darlington Reserves: Price, Hughes, McGurk, Pattinson, Mason, Convery (Bulford 67min), Webster, Coghlan, Wainwright (St Juste 70min), Parkin, Russell (Mendum 45min)
* Hartlepool's Jack Ross could be in line for a return to action at the weekend against Port Vale after coming through a 90-minute reserve team run-out yesterday.
The Scot, signed from Clyde, has played just seven times this season after suffering a knee injury and Pool boss Neale Cooper has admitted when he is back to full fitness it will be like signing a new player.
Yesterday's match with Bradford City at Billingham Town's Bedford Terrace finished goalless.
Andrew Appleby could have put Pools ahead inside the first five minutes after good play from John Brackstone and David Foley. However, Appleby's shot was well-blocked by Craig Bentham.
Another chance went begging when Chris Emms fired wide from 20 yards but Pools were grateful to keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos when he spread himself well to deny Daniel Okuku at the other end.
In the second half Michael Maiden's 25-yard rocket beat the keeper but not the woodwork.
Then Pool's Greek keeper had to be at his best again when a backward header from one of his team-mates looped goalwards and he dived to thwart the danger.
Pool: Konstantopoulos, Ross, Brackstone, P Turnbull, N Wilkinson, Craddock, Emms, S Turnbull, Foley, Appleby, Maidens.
Ritchie Humphreys may miss the Port Vale game after having eight stitches put in a head wound sustained during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Peterborough.
Read more about the Quakers here.
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