ALUN ARMSTRONG has revealed how he was prepared to rejoin Darlington during the summer, before reservations over his fitness cooled manager David Hodgson's interest in the striker, writes Lee Hall.

Hodgson stalled on offering Armstrong a new contract at the end of last season after expressing his concern over the players condition following a series of injury setbacks.

Armstrong was given the summer to build up his fitness and recover from a niggling hip problem, before Hodgson was prepared to offer the forward a second season with Quakers.

But, despite returning to fitness and putting his house in Ipswich on the market before the start of the season, Armstrong's hopes of a return to the North-East failed to materialise.

After training with Colchester United during the summer, it was Rushden & Diamonds who offered Armstrong a chance to resurrect his career at Nene Park.

"I was ready to come back up here in the summer," said Armstrong. "I'd put my house up for sale and I was ready to move.

"David rang me to find out where I was with my fitness and I told him that I'd be ready for the start of the season.

"But, I think he was still dubious about my condition and felt it wasn't worth taking the chance. It was a disappointment, but I have to respect the position he was in and accept it."

It was ironic that Armstrong's return would be cut short by injury. The 30-year-old was substituted as a precaution in the 32nd minute with a tight hamstring.

"When I was coming off Hodgy said that it was sod's law that it would happen," said Armstrong, who scored 11 goals in 33 starts for Quakers last season.

Armstrong's appearance may have been brief, but in that time he had a hand in Rushden's ninth minute opener, beating the Quakers offside trap before crossing for goalscorer David Bell.

"I got an assist while I was on, but it is one of those occasions where I thought 'Should I score?' but I didn't and passed it instead," said Armstrong.

"It was disappointing to concede late and I thought we'd done enough to win it before Sodje dived!"

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