DAVID HODGSON'S quest for continuity may put Tresor Kandol's hopes of resurrecting his Darlington career on hold this weekend.

After Saturday's emphatic 3-0 win at Stockport County Hodgson has signalled his intentions to make minimum changes to his side for the visit of second-placed Grimsby Town this weekend.

That could mean a place on the bench for Kandol, who has endured a disappointing start to his Quakers career.

The 24-year-old, on-loan from Dagenham & Redbridge, has failed to score in three appearances and was last week fined by the club for failing to turn up for training.

Any hopes the forward has of making up for his indifferent start on Saturday were looking less likely last night.

With Ryan Valentine suspended, Hodgson will have to make at least one change. But he is unlikely to tinker with his forward options after Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, Simon Johnson and Carlos Logan all made good impressions at Stockport.

The absence of Valentine, who is likely to be replaced by Brian Close, will prevent Hodgson from naming an unchanged side for the first time this season.

"With the exception of Taffy (Valentine) it would be nice to keep the same side," said Hodgson.

"We've been forced to make a lot of changes this season, which has been far from ideal.

"I've never liked making changes, week in, week out, but we haven't had much choice.

"We're always striving to find that consistency, although it's difficult when you're having to re-shuffle every week.

"The lads who played at Stockport deserve to start against Grimsby and, barring any more injuries, they will."

Grimsby suffered a home defeat at the hands of struggling Bristol Rovers at the weekend. However, Hodgson believes the result will only make Grimsby more determined to return to winning ways this weekend.

"I don't think many expected them to lose and I'm sure they will want to set the record straight against us," said Hodgson.

Quakers recorded a 1-0 win in the corresponding fixture at Blundell Park in August thanks to Ndumbu-Nsungu's late penalty.