Darlington midfielder Gary Pearson still has an important role to play despite starting just one game under new boss David Hodgson.

That's according to the manager himself, who last night paid tribute to the tough-tackling 27-year-old.

"Gary's attitude in training has been fantastic," said Hodgson.

"Even when he's been out of the side he has the rest of the lads buzzing.

"He's a great lad to have around and a fantastic professional."

Pearson has not started a game since the FA Cup defeat at non-league Hornchurch last month - Hodgson's first game in charge.

However, the Quakers boss insists the former Sheffield United man still has a part to play in the club's fight against relegation.

"I'm sure, when called upon, Gary will do the business for us," said Hodgson.

"It's hard for players when they're not starting games but Gary's attitude has never changed either way.

"It's up to the players that aren't in the team to show me that they should be."

Pearson played in the reserves' 4-2 victory over Doncaster at the Reynolds Arena last night.

Goalkeeper Andy Collet was pencilled in to return in the game, but the 30-year-old's comeback has been put on hold.

Collett has not played since suffering a punctured lung in September.

Hodgson revealed the former Middlesbrough stopper is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness but warned he faces a fight to retain his place from current first-choice Michael Price.

"Price is the main man at the moment and as long as he keeps performing then he will be in the side," said Hodgson.

Barry Conlon and Ryan Valentine, who begin three-match bans at Cambridge on Saturday, were also involved.

Conlon's place will be taken by new loan signing Lee Matthews at the weekend.

The Bristol City striker joined the club on a month's loan on Tuesday and will go straight into the starting line-up as Quakers look to build on Saturday's impressive 3-0 win over York City.

Meanwhile, the reserves recovered from going a goal down after just 50 seconds to beat Doncaster's second string.

Chris Hughes levelled matters and then Barry Conlon, suspended for the next three first-team matches, put Quakers ahead before Mark Convery notched his fourth goal in as many reserve outings.

Quakers went in at half-time 4-1 up after Hughes added his second and the scoring was completed when Rovers pulled a goal back just after the break.

Darlington Reserves: Norton; Morely, Pearson, McGurk, Valentine; Hughes, Bossy, Coughlan, Convery; Conlon, Alexander. Suns: Kelly, Nathan, Bond, Parkin, O'Shea.

l Yeovil yesterday played down fears their eagerly-awaited FA Cup clash with Liverpool is in jeopardy following a fire at their Huish Park ground.

Emergency services were called out at 3.30am on Wednesday morning to put out the fire which destroyed the stadium manager's office and also swept through the club's ticket department.

However, the club managed to salvage all the computers in the ticket office and insist the third-round tie against the Barclaycard Premiership club will go ahead on January 4.

A spokesman said yesterday: ''The stadium manager's office has been destroyed and the ticket office has been badly damaged, but we've managed to rescue all the computers and information needed to operate for home games.

''We are running about seven or eight hours behind schedule but tickets for the Liverpool game are on sale tomorrow morning and we are confident to be up and running for then.

"Obviously it is a major blow but there is no danger of the Liverpool game not going ahead, nor the Scunthorpe game a week on Saturday.''

* Torquay chairman Mike Bateson has revealed he has turned down a bid in the region of £200,000 for 12-goal top scorer David Graham.

Bateson refused to reveal the identity of the club from a higher division, but confirmed: ''I think it was quite a serious offer.

"But, to be honest, it fell short of the value I place on David and so I turned it down.

''I am hoping the fans realise how seriously I take all this and that they show their support for the club in return on Saturday, when we play York City at home.''

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