Darlington are on the trail of a Moroccan international as David Hodgson steps up his hunt for a much-needed forward.

The club have requested international clearance to allow Hicham Zerouali, who joined Aberdeen for nearly £500,000 almost five years ago, to train with Quakers next week.

Hodgson yesterday gave a reserve outing to French striker James Kaymen. The former Paris St Germain forward played the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 home defeat to Scunthorpe but failed to impress, so Hodgson will switch his attention to Zerouali, who left Aberdeen in the summer of 2002.

Zerouali bagged 11 league goals in 14 starts and made 23 substitute appearances north of the border in the same Aberdeen team as former Quakers goalkeeper David Preece, who gave Hodgson a positive rundown on the 27-year-old.

Though still tracking Canadian international Rob Friend who plays in Norway, Hodgson said: "Preecey reckoned Zerouali was livewire, very quick and technically very good.

"They paid a lot of money for him and he scored a few goals too.

"We've spoken to the consulate at the Moroccan Embassy to get clearance on his passport so we should see him next week.

"I spoke to Rob today and he's a free agent in October but we're hoping to get him sooner rather than later - he's our main target."

A goal in each half at the newly-named Williamson Motors Stadium was enough to sink Quakers' reserves, who fielded a line-up featuring several players with first-team experience.

The visitors also included a handful of experienced players and it was former Sunderland trainee Cliff Byrne who put Scunthorpe ahead after quarter of an hour as he was allowed time and space to head past Michael Price from eight yards.

The second goal came shortly after half-time, when Andy Parton converted from the penalty spot after Chris Mason was adjudged to have fouled the Iron striker.

Darlington (4-4-2): Price; Casson (Bulford 75), Maddison Mason, Adddison; Convery, Hughes, Close, Clark; Kaymen, Scartascini. Subs (not used): Molyneux (gk), Parkin, Mendum, Mathewson.

* The new black away shirt, available in all sizes, is now in stock at the club shop while the home black and white hooped home shirt is due to arrive on Wednesday, August 25

* Darlington's game at Oxford has been put back 24 hours to October 10 (3pm kick-off). The game has been moved as England play Wales in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, October 9.

* Micky Nelson knows the key to continued success for his Hartlepool United side - pick up a few more home wins.

Last season saw Pool win ten times away from home, the same amount they managed at Victoria Park as they reached the play-offs.

After winning at Huddersfield on Monday night, Pool have three home games from their next four outings.

And the commanding central defender is looking forward to turning some of last season's eight home draws into three-point hauls.

He admitted: "It's important to get our home form going and get some goals.

"As much as our home record was good last season, we drew too many games.

"We won ten games away from home last season and perhaps it was our home form which let us down a little bit.

"If we can copy our away form again and pick up a few more points at home, we can be looking at the play-offs again.

Pool face Blackpool on Saturday and travel to Swindon a week on Saturday before meeting Colchester and Barnsley at Victoria Park.

Pool reserves started their season with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Stoke City yesterday.

* PATRICK Kluivert has told Sven Goran Eriksson that Newcastle team-mate Shola Ameobi could provide the "technical boost" that propels England to the next World Cup finals.

Kluivert said: "I think Shola has every chance of playing for England.

"I knew about him before I came to Newcastle, but from what I've seen here he's getting better all the time."

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