INJURED Darlington midfielder Chris Lumsdon will be out of action until December after undergoing surgery on a back problem.

The former Carlisle player has been out since mid-August and Quakers hope the 29-year-old will return at the beginning of December.

Lumsdon picked up the injury with the Cumbrians and it resurfaced at the beginning of the season shortly after Colin Todd brought him to The Northern Echo Arena. He played in only two league games before being sidelined.

His place has been taken by Jamie Chandler, the loan signing from Sunderland, who on Saturday makes his first appearance on home soil since serving a three-match ban. He was sent off in the draw at Grimsby Town last month, a game which proved to be the last of Todd’s short tenure.

It was Todd who brought 20-year-old Chandler to Quakers and the South- Shields-born midfielder is keen to record his gratitude to Quakers’ former manager.

“He gave me a chance which I’m, very grateful for,”

said Chandler. “He brought me to the club, like he did with a lot of players, and he put me straight into the frame so I’ve got to be very grateful.

“He was absolutely fantastic with me. In my first two games he played me on the right and explained the situation would help me. Then he gave me my chance in the middle and I have done okay.

“I was very low after getting sent off against Grimsby.

But Colin picked me up straight away. He came over after the game, gave me a pat on the head and said I’d learn from it. I’ll always remember that, so for him to then say that he was leaving, well I was quite shocked.

“He came in to say goodbye after he’d left and I automatically said ‘morning gaffer!’”

Todd is still held in high regard by Sunderland supporters who remember his performances at Roker Park in the Sixties and Seventies.

Chandler said: “My family is divided between Sunderland and Newcastle fans. But when I first found out that Darlington were interested and that Colin Todd was the manager, the Sunderland fans, and even my dad, who is a Newcastle fan, were saying he’s a legend.

“They were saying I’d go to Darlington and learn a lot from him and I’ve got to say that I did.

“I have had a short career so far and worked under some good managers and I’ve got to say that Colin Todd will always be one of them.”

■ The Darlington Supporters Trust are holding a talk-in with special guests Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison tonight at the Beaconsfield pub in Barnard Castle (8pm).