Darlington manager Gary Bennett has warned his players to expect a tough pre-season.

The squad return today after their summer break, with Bennett determined that the players' fitness level should be improved on last season.

"I thought that at times we were a little lacking, so we'll be concentrating very hard on stamina and fitness in the first week or so," he said.

"Shall we say that I don't think pre-season will be easy in that respect."

Several of last season's injury problems have cleared up, with Paul Heckingbottom, Martin Gray, Brian Atkinson and Paul Campbell all expected to report back this morning.

"It's like having four new signings as far as I'm concerned," said Bennett. "We missed them all in various ways near the end of last season."

However, top scorer Glenn Naylor and midfielders Gary Himsworth and Mark Kilty won't be reporting back, and Bennett doesn't expect to see them back in action for a few months.

But the search for a striker goes on, with the fans growing anxious for a new face.

"There are several hurdles to overcome before we can sign somebody," said Bennett.

"We have our eyes on one or two players, but it depends on circumstances.

"I am trying very, very hard. I have one or two particular players in mind, but it is difficult.

"In some ways, it's a merry-go-round, and you're waiting for something to trigger it off.

"A lot of clubs are back this week and early next, so something might happen. There are still over five weeks to the start of the season."

* Former England international Neil Ruddock is in talks with Oxford United about a possible move to the new Kassam Stadium.

The 33-year-old former Liverpool defender met new Oxford boss Mark Wright and assistant Ted McMinn at the club's old Manor Ground.

Ruddock was released by Crystal Palace after a well-publicised fall-out with former Palace boss Alan Smith.

He has so far failed to agree terms with the Third Division club but they have not given up hope of a shock deal.

''I think wages may be an issue we have to overcome, but he looked at pictures of the new stadium and was quite impressed,'' said club spokesman Chris Williams.

Wright refused to go into details about possible signings but said: ''I'm willing to wash the chairman's car or anything if it means we get the signings we want.''

* Torquay have re-entered the hunt for a new manager after first-choice target Colin Lee revealed he is considering other options. The former Wolves manager told club owner Mike Bateson: ''There was an outside possibility of one or two other posts, one of which is a coaching post with a Premier League side.''

Read more about the Quakers here.