HAVING experienced a nomadic career so far, new Darlington striker Mor Diop hopes his goal on Saturday will mark the beginning of a successful stay in England.

France-born Diop may only be 21 yet before joining Quakers from Ibiza, a team in the Spanish lower divisions, he had already played in five different countries.

Having started in his homeland, Diop has since played in Ukraine, Belgium, Cyprus and Spain before arriving at The Northern Echo Arena.

He made his Darlington debut as a second half sub against Hereford United ten days ago and followed that up with a scoring appearance from the bench in the 3-1 FA Cup loss at Barnet at the weekend.

“Of course I enjoyed my goal but I am not happy that I did not help the team to win,”

said Diop who says he is still building up his fitness.

“I wanted to come to England because it is a football country and everybody enjoys football. I’d like to stop here.

“I did not know about Darlington before I came here and nobody knew me. That’s why I had to have a trial because I realise that nobody knows me.

“I’m not quite ready, in maybe two or three weeks I will be 100 per cent. I had a thigh problem but I am feeling better now, I just need overall fitness.

“It is not easy when you’re not fit, there are some things that you cannot do but I will get better.”

In the Ukraine Premier Division Diop played for Metalurh Donetsk, a team he joined after leaving Paris where he was born to Senegalese parents.

He explained: “I was playing in the youth team of a third division team in France and from there I went to Ukraine. I had an agent before who was from the Ukraine so that’s why I played there.

“I was there for a year and a half and it was very cold in winter but in summer it was better! It was a good league and we were playing against teams like Dynamo Kyiv and Shaktar Donesk.

“I then changed my agent and the new one was in contact with some Spanish teams and it went from there.

“In Ibiza I was in the third division and the crowds were not like here, they were smaller, and I was there for the second half of the season.

“But I hope to be here for a long time and score more goals.”