Darlington manager Gary Bennett yesterday secured midfielder Thomas Butler for another month - and also got permission for him and Kevin Kyle to play in the FA Cup. Bennett met Sunderland boss Peter Reid yesterday afternoon, and both of them agreed that Butler can stay at Feethams for at least another month. "I had a good chat with Peter, and he told me that it suited everybody for Thomas to stay another month," said Bennett. "The player is enjoying himself here, and we like the way he plays, and vice versa. "I asked Peter about him and Kevin playing in the FA Cup, and he raised no objections." The news came as a boost for Bennett, who thought that Reid might not want the pair cuptied in case Sunderland needed them later in the competition. Bennett was full of praise for Reed, as well as Mick Wadsworth at Newcastle and Bryan Robson at Middlesbrough. "Peter gave me plenty of advice," he said. "He said that he would help me as much as he could, which is great. He knows what it's like for a manager in different situations. "Since I left Sunderland as a player, we've kept in touch, and he's been brilliant. Whenever I've asked for help, he's been there, and that is something which we appreciate. "Newcastle and Middlesbrough also help a lot, so we're lucky to have three Premiership clubs around us who are willing to help the likes of us in the Third Division."

Midfielder Butler , who has been a big hit since he made hisdebut against Torquay on October 14, admitted he was delighted to stay.

"It's brilliant coming to Darlington," he said."I get on with the rest of the players very well, the training is good, and GaryBennett and Jim Montgomery are very supportive. In fact, it's a real familyatmosphere."We're going through a bit of a bad run at the moment. We're creating a lot ofchances and just not taking them, but once we get a couple of goals, then we'llstart winning matches. We just need a couple of breaks."

Butler, who has represented the Republic of Ireland at various youth levels,hasn't been playing regularly at Sunderland despite appearing in the Premiership last season against West Ham."I wasn't really playing games at Sunderland," he said. "There's a lot ofplayers in the squad, and plenty of competition for places, so all I was gettingwas a place on the bench for the reserves."At Darlington, I'm playing games, and that suits me. I played a couple of gamesfor Sunderland on a pre-season tour to Holland, but nothing really until I made my debut for Darlington."I wasn't used to the pace of the game in my first match, nor the physical stuff, but that was because I hadn't been playing matches. I've got more andmore used to it over the last couple of weeks." Getting used to the rough and tumble of the Third Division was perhaps easier than his visit to South Africa for the World Youth Cup with the Republic's Under 17 squad. "It was a great experience," he said. "But the temperatures were really high. We were playing games in 35 degree temperatures, and we discovered that we could hardly run for the last twenty minutes!" Quakers had another player on loan from Sunderland last season. Neil Wainwright scored arguably one of the goals of the season against Barnet, and will line up against Quakers tomorrow for Halifax Town, where boss Bennett's ex Sunderland colleague, Paul Bracewell, is manager. Bracewell was also a Sunderland team mate of Martin Gray and Brian Atkinson. Darlington are optimistic that the game will go ahead tomorrow as the pitch has stood up to the heavy rain well this week - in stark contrast to a year ago. Full back Paul Heckingbottom could be a surprise inclusion in the squad, as he has suffered no reaction to his groin injury while training with the first team. Darlington players and officials are attending a fundraising night on Tuesday November 21 at the Model T in Mowden for Denise Baker, who is wanting to compete in the World Transplant Games next year. Admission is free