A month after joining the club, Phil Stamp has yet to make his Darlington debut, but David Hodgson insists the midfielder will be a success.

Stamp took another important step towards making his long-awaited Quakers bow when he returned to full training yesterday.

The 29-year-old has so far endured a frustrating time since joining the club on a free transfer at the beginning of October.

On signing a short-term deal until the end of December, Stamp was the first to admit that he was lacking match practise after leaving Hearts during the summer. As a result, Hodgson put the former Middlesbrough midfielder's debut on hold to allow him time to build up his fitness.

Hodgson had hoped to include Stamp in the squad for the trip to Bury last month, before the Teessider pulled up in training with a calf problem.

However, after taking part in yesterday's full training session, Stamp could make his debut for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers next weekend.

"We could easily have gambled and thrown Stampy in at the deep end when he joined us," said Hodgson. "But that wouldn't have been fair on him and it wouldn't have been fair on us.

"I wasn't prepared to hang him out to dry when he wasn't in the right condition. I've spoken to him and he felt the same. He's desperate to get playing again, but it's important that he does it in his own time.

"He's worked very hard in training and I can see that he is going to be an asset to us. There was a lot of interest in him from other club's before he signed for us and I can see why."

Stamp could be one of three new faces in Hodgson's squad to face Wycombe next week. The Quakers boss has also made enquiries for two strikers on loan - one of whom is Bristol City's former Newcastle and Sunderland forward, Michael Bridges.

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