A LENGTHY injury list and some disappointing pre-season results have already cast a shadow over Darlington's prospects for the new Nationwide Division Three season, which begins with a long trip to Southend United tomorrow.
With Martin Gray, Paul Heckingbottom, Glenn Naylor, Gary Himsworth and Mark Kilty all unable to play any part at Roots Hall, Quakers manager Gary Bennett and assistant Mick Tait will hope their summer signings can make an immediate impact.
Ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison is short of match practice, but should inject some quality into midfield, while new strikers Barry Conlon and Danny Mellanby will increase competition for places up front.
But Quakers will need to improve on a poor display at Barrow last Saturday, when a 3-1 defeat left them with a lot of work to do in training this week.
The Shrimpers should give Darlington a stern early test of their promotion ambitions.
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