Darlington striker Lee Matthews is playing for his future and manager David Hodgson is ready to reap the rewards.

The Middlesbrough-born forward returned to the North-East last week, on a month's loan from Second Division Bristol City.

Today the 24-year-old will make his home debut for Quakers as Macclesfield pay their first visit to the Reynolds Arena.

Matthews, whose Ashton Gate career has been blighted by injury since he joined in a £100,000 deal from Leeds in 2001, is out of contract at the end of the season.

A number of clubs have already expressed an interest in the player, with Swindon, Oxford and Doncaster all monitoring Matthews' progress after the trio failed with loan bids.

City boss Danny Wilson has told Matthews his future could remain in the South-West, depending on how he performs for Quakers.

Matthews was brought in by Hodgson as cover for the suspended Barry Conlon last week and made his debut in the 1-0 defeat at Cambridge.

After a week training with his new teammates, Hodgson believes Matthews is physically better equipped than he was seven days ago at the Abbey Stadium.

"This is his first home game so he'll want to impress the public and his family and hopefully he can chip in with a goal," said Hodgson.

"We've put a lot of work into him this week and he will benefit from it.

"He knows what the score is now so hopefully we will get to see the best of him."

Hodgson has seemingly conceded that under the current financial climate at the club, an extension to his present deal looks unlikely.

However, the Quakers boss has not ruled out the possibility of bringing the Teessider to the club on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

"I don't think we could afford him beyond the month but we are hoping that in that time we can make a good impression on Lee," said Hodgson.

"If Lee can give a good impression back to us and if his contract is not renewed at Bristol then we can start negotiating."

Matthews will partner Neil Wainwright in attack today as Quakers aim to make amends for last week's below-par performance at Cambridge, which dragged Hodgson's men back into the bottom two.

While the recent performances and results - bar Cambridge - have been encouraging, Hodgson has warned there is still a lot of work to be done.

"I've never once got carried away when people say we've got out of it because we have never been out of it," said Hodgson.

"Even if we get out of the bottom two it means nothing unless we're six or seven points clear."

Macclesfield booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup with a penalties win over Cambridge in midweek.

Hodgson believes the Silkmen's heroics may have come at a price.

"They've had a tough week and we'd like to think that it will work in our favour," he said.

"They've had a long trip to Cambridge and back and played over 120 minutes of football so they're bound to be feeling it a bit.

Macclesfield this week put club stalwart John Askey in full charge of team affairs after guiding the club to three wins, three draws and a defeat following Dave Moss's departure in October.

Askey will welcome back Matt Carragher and Dean Delaney after the pair were cup-tied during the week.

However, the Cheshire outfit will be without Steve Macauley (broken foot) and David Flitcroft (virus).

Former Quakers striker Martin Carruthers is included in the squad but will start on the bench. Ex-Hartlepool midfielder Tommy Widdrington will start.

Hodgson is likely to hand a start to Chris Hughes, probably at the expense of Gary Pearson.

Midfielder Clark Keltie is also pushing for a recall after missing out at Cambridge with an ankle injury.

Like Conlon, defender Ryan Valentine serves the second game of a three-match ban following his dismissal at home to Scunthorpe three weeks ago.

l Carlisle chairman John Courtenay has been sentenced to 150 hours community service for his part in a brawl in a match between his team and Lincoln last season.

Courtenay and Carlisle striker Richie Foran were both found guilty of threatening behaviour at Gainsborough Magistrates Court.

Courtenay will also pay £50 compensation and £800 costs, while Foran has yet to be sentenced.

The brawl occurred in a match at Sincil Bank in August 2002, in which three Carlisle players and one Lincoln player were sent off