DARLINGTON boss Tommy Taylor is weighing up a bid for Leyton Orient striker Iyseden Christie.

Taylor has launched a bid to bring the 25-year-old in on loan from the club he left in October.

Darlington, who have lost just once in seven Third Division matches, are keen to bolster their attacking options, despite scoring six goals in the last two matches.

Taylor, whose side entertain Cheltenham tonight, said: "We have held talks with Orient and we are just waiting for them to come back to us.

"He is a player I would love to have at this club. Obviously I know a lot about him.

"If we can bring him in then he would give us a bit of pace and he would be a good player to have at this club."

Christie, a former Coventry City man, was signed by Taylor at Orient in July, 1999 from Mansfield and finished as top-scorer in his first season with seven goals.

In September, 2000 Christie suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in an FA Cup clash with Newcastle United and he was forced out for 15 months.

The Coventry-born forward, who has also had a spell with Bournemouth, made a goal-scoring return to action in January, when he grabbed one of Orient's goals in the 4-1 victory at First Division Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, defender Gary Pearson's hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared. He could return to action against Hartlepool United a week today.

"It's a blow to lose him because he's being doing well," said Taylor. "Fortunately, Gary's injury does not look as bad as we thought. It looks as though it's just been connected to the trouble he's had with his back.

"We are not too worried about replacing him because we know that Paul Heckingbottom can just slot in there and do well.

"It's important we cut out our defensive mistakes and continue to score like we have been.

"We should have beaten Shrewsbury but silly mistakes allowed them to score three and we can't afford to do that."

Darlington Reserves' clash at Barnsley last night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The second string's next match is tomorrow night at home to Grimsby Town.

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