Darlington chairman George Reynolds will look to thrash out a deal to bring Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla back to English football over the next 24 hours.

The 32-year-old former Newcastle star was back in the North East today for talks with Reynolds, which were scheduled Sunday evening.

Asprilla is expected to stay with the former safe-cracker tonight before spending Monday re-acquainting himself with the region.

''George will meet Tino later today,'' said Luke Raine, Darlington's director of public relations. ''Talks are likely to carry on this evening and tomorrow.''But with it being a Bank Holiday weekend, no official paperwork can be processed.

''Tino will familiarise himself with George and probably stay with him overnight.''

Thes meeting will bring together two colourful characters.Reynolds' background is well known and the South American has had more than his fair share of headlines for widely differing reasons.

However, at his best, his talent on the pitch was breathtaking, and few of those who witnessed his magnificent Champions League hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona in September 1997 will ever forget it.

Asprilla cost the Magpies £7.5million back in February 1996 when Kevin Keegan swooped to add the Parma striker to his squad, but he returned to the Serie A club less than two years later for £6.5m as Keegan's successor Kenny Dalglish shuffled his pack.

However, his stock has fallen since, and after spells with Palmeiras and Nacional, who recently released him, he is desperate to for a way back into the game. Asprilla would like nothing better than a return to the Premiership, but although he has spoken of his dream of playing once again for Newcastle and was recently linked with the Magpies' derby rivals Sunderland, there have, as yet, been no takers.

However, Darlington insist that their bid to bring him back into the game is genuine, and Reynolds has insisted he will pay the going rate for a man who he believes could help to attract better quality players to the Third Division outfit.

The Quakers would almost certainly face a fight to get a work permit for a player who has figured in only five of his country's last 14 competitive games, but he insists he is ready to play.

''I am a friend of the president and I want to help him to manage and take the team into the Second Division, so I am going to play again in England,'' he said at the weekend.

''I am ready to hear what the coach wants from me and I am ready to learn more things and to give all I know.''I've kept good links with England. I have great friends there and it would be great to play again in the Premiership.'' .

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