Darlington striker Danny Mellanby is on the comeback trail after several months out with a long-standing back problem.

He has struggled since last season to overcome to injury but yesterday had an injection which it is hoped will finally cure the problem.

He must now rest for a week before beginning work to regain match fitness having not played in the first team since March.

Pool and Quakers' reserves meet this afternoon, ten days before the first teams clash at Victoria Park.

Darlington are still looking for their first points of the season after losing the opening two games, while Pool beat Lincoln in their only game to date.

Pool field a strong team, with Tommy Widdrington lining up in midfield alongside Adam Boyd.

The game will be played at Seaham Red Star, kicking off at 2pm.

With Friday's game with Wrexham postponed, Quakers' next fixture is at Huddersfield in the Worthington Cup on Tuesday, September 10 which will be followed by the derby at Hartlepool four days later.

Tickets for the match at Victoria Park go on general sale today to away fans from 10am-5pm.

l Focused defender Chris Westwood insists entertainment isn't always on the cards away from home.

Westwood has been an integral part of a solid Hartlepool United defence this season.

Pool have the best defensive record in the division, conceding just four goals, with Westwood outstanding as Chris Turner's side plotted a course to top spot.

And after Pool showed their defensive steel in Saturday's 1-0 win at Oxford, Westwood last night insisted: "We know that performance wasn't too pretty.

"But you don't go away from home to entertain the home crowd, you go away from home to try and not concede and frustrate the home team.

"People come to watch us at home to be entertained and that's what we try to do.

"Of course we want to play the best football every week, wherever we play, and get the ball down and pass it around, but you can't always do that.''

Pool's trip to Swansea on Satureday will go ahead, as the home side only have one player called into the Welsh under-21 squad.

Pool's new all-red away kit went on sale yesterday, although the club is still awaiting a second delivery of the home shirts after quickly selling the first order.

Read more about the Quakers here.