DARLINGTON head for Luton Town today with Ben Purkiss having extended his loan at The Northern Echo Arena spell by two months.

The right-back arrived from Oxford United at the beginning of the season when Paul Arnison was injured and has played all seven of matches so far.

The 27-year-old’s loan spell expired after last Saturday’s home defeat to Mansfield Town when manager Mark Cooper admitted he would need to speak to chairman Raj Singh first before a decision was made on Purkiss.

Although Arnison is now back in action, Cooper says that injuries elsewhere in the squad have influenced the decision to keep Purkiss.

“Ben will be signing for us for two months,” said Cooper, whose squad set off for Bedfordshire today. “We have other players that could play at right-back, but with John McReady getting injured and Aaron Brown not being back yet we’re struggling for players a little.

“McReady is struggling with a knee injury, but everybody else is back training.

Aaron is back in full training, he needs a week or ten days before he play.”

With Brown not yet ready to start, Greg Taylor is likely to continue at left-back unless he is shifted to midfield where Cooper will make changes in light of last Saturday’s defeat.

Kris Taylor’s place is under threat, though McReady’s injury is a factor if he does not recover in time, with Jamie Chandler and Chris Atkinson both pushing for a recall.

New Spanish signing Jonatan Sanchez-Munoz is in the squad though is unlikely to start at Kenilworth Road as Quakers aim to avenge February’s 4-0 loss, the heaviest defeat of last season.

The Hatters, defeated in the play-off final last season, are again expected to be among the promotion contenders.

They are ninth, a one point sixth-placed Quakers, having enjoyed an unbeaten start to a season – only joint-leaders Wrexham and Gateshead have also yet to taste defeat.

Cooper said: “It was 4-0 last season, Sam Russell didn’t have a good night so he’ll want to put that right.

“Me too, I probably got it wrong with the substitutes.

We were trying to win the game as we were chasing the play-offs, but we conceded four goals.

“It’s a tough ask to go to Kenilworth Road, it’s always a hostile atmosphere with a big crowd and we have to deal with that.”

Scott Pocklington, is no longer with the club as Cooper decided not to award the keeper a contract and he has returned to Newton Aycliffe.