DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson has told his strikers to follow the lead set by on-loan Middlesbrough star Danny Graham.

Despite failing to score on his full debut at the weekend, the 18-year-old was the pick of a new look three-man attack, alongside top scorer Barry Conlon and on-loan Sunderland striker Neil Teggart, in the 1-0 defeat at Boston.

With six games to go and Quakers just one point above the relegation zone, Hodgson has called on the rest of his forwards to show the same attitude as Graham.

"Danny was a big plus at Boston," said Hodgson.

"He's done himself and Middlesbrough Football Club proud.

"He's only 18 but he's conducted himself excellently out on the pitch and done very well.

"Unfortunately, there were players around him on Saturday who weren't doing enough.

"With six games to go we cannot afford to let that happen."

Hodgson has already expressed an interest in keeping Graham until the end of the season.

The Newcastle-born teenager is due to return to the Riverside Stadium when his one-month loan expires after the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Southend.

However, Hodgson will hope to have the youngster's short-term future ironed out before they fly down to Essex on Sunday night.

Hodgson, meanwhile, does not expect to make a decision on the future of Argentine trialist Leandro Scartascini until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been training with Quakers since joining the club last month.

And while the Buenos Aires-born forward has impressed during his short time with the club, Hodgson may have to wait until the club's financial future is resolved before any moves can be made.

Quakers welcome fifth-placed Mansfield on Saturday, who are fresh from what Stags boss Keith Curle described as one of their "best performances of the season" in Tuesday night's 3-1 win over fellow promotion-chasers, Oxford.

"The performance and result were spot-on," said Curle.

"It was up there with our best performances of the season."

* The Reynolds Arena ticket office will be open between 10am and 4pm on Good Friday.

Read more about the Quakers here.