Darlington could be without four strikers when they host Kettering on Saturday as injuries take their toll at The Northern Echo Arena.

Liam Hatch and Nathan Modest (dead leg) had to be subbed during Tuesday’s draw with Mansfield while Tommy Wright is suspended.

Chris Senior is close to a comeback and manager Mark Cooper hopes the former Altrincham forward will return to training today.

Hatch sustained a facial wound, leaving Cooper bemoaning the lack of consistency from referees.

Wright was red-carded at Tamworth last weekend, whereas Hatch’s assailant escaped punishment.

Cooper said: “How ironic is it that we lose Tommy for a nothing challenge, and then Liam gets absolutely smashed but there’s no punishment.

“The referee’s excuse was that he was too far away, so there’s the inconsistency.

“We are struggling for bodies but we’ll just have to get on with it, I’m sure there are other teams struggling with injuries too.”

Senior has been out of action since Christmas with a knee problem, and Cooper added: “He had an injection on Monday and we’re hoping he will be back in training by the end of the week, though there’s no guarantee on that.”

Meanwhile, Marc Bridge- Wilkinson has spoken of his desire to earn promotion at Darlington, a feat that the 31- year-old is yet to experience.

“I’ve never been lucky enough to get a promotion in my career,” he said. “The closest I came was with Carlisle.

It’s an achievement I would like on my CV before I finish.

“The club has been ripped up and pieced back together in the last few years. Now it seems to be on a sounder financial footing.

It’s a League club in the wrong division and the challenge is to get back there.”