FORMER Darlington favourite Matty Appleby is training with the club with a view to a possible return to the North-East.

The Oldham defender has been given permission by Latics boss Brian Talbot to link up with Quakers, seven years after leaving Feethams for Barnsley in a £200,000 deal.

Appleby was part of the team which reached Wembley in the Third Division play-off final in 1996, before moving to Oakwell later that year.

After helping the Tykes reach the Premiership in 1997, Appleby moved to Oldham on a free transfer in 2002 following a successful loan spell.

However, injuries have hampered his time at Boundary Park and he failed to make a single appearance last season due to a serious thigh injury.

But after building up his fitness during the summer, the former Newcastle man will continue his road to recovery with Quakers.

Appleby still has a year to run on his Latics contract, but Hodgson is hoping to play the 32-year-old in next Monday's opening friendly at Whitby Town.

The Quakers boss has also handed trials to strikers Sebastien Ferrero and Quim.

Argentinian Ferrero spent last season with Raith Rovers, scoring five goals in 13 starts. Quim plays in the Portuguese top flight with Penafiel. Hodgson has also held talks with former Watford striker Allan Smart, who spent last season at Crewe.

The Quakers squad will return to their Durham-based training headquarters next week. Hodgson has been using Richmond Town's facilities to put his players through their paces for the early stages of pre-season training.