New Darlington striker Lee Matthews is delighted to be playing first-team football again after spending two years in the wilderness.

The 24-year-old joined Quakers on a month's loan from Second Division Bristol City last week after rejecting moves to Swindon, Oxford and Doncaster.

Matthews has made just 14 starts for City since joining the club in a £100,000 deal from Leeds in March 2001.

The Acklam-born forward's Ashton Gate career has been hampered by a number of injury setbacks and despite impressing for the reserves this season, Matthews was made available for loan by Robins boss Danny Wilson. Matthews made his Quakers debut in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge.

"Danny Wilson thought it would be a good idea to get me out on loan after the injuries I've had," said Matthews.

"That was only my second start in the League for two years and hopefully I can get better as I get fitter."

The Teessider admitted he didn't think twice about returning to the North-East.

"I'm a local lad so obviously of all the places it's good to get a chance to prove myself up here," said Matthews.

"My fiance is from up here and all my family are so it's a good move all round really.

"I've been sick of sitting on the bench so I'm looking forward to the challenge here.

"It's good to be playing League football again and I'd like nothing better than to help Darlington climb the table."

And Matthews believes the club have the players to pull themselves away from the bottom of the Division Three table.

"There's a lot of quality in the squad so it's a shame we're at the end of the table" said Matthews.

"From the time I've been here there is a belief in the squad that we can rise up the table."

Matthews is out of contract at the end of the season and is not ruling out a permanent switch to the Reynolds Arena.

"If I do well then there's always a chance I could stay up here," admitted Matthews. "I'm out of contract at the end of the season so who knows?"

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