Former Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has signed for Darlington.

The Redcar-born 35-year-old has been recovering from injury having undergone back surgery three months ago, and has been working with Quakers physio Danny O’Connor during his rehabilitation.

Tonight, at an event at Dormans Club in Middlesbrough, the Teessider revealed he had joined Quakers and could be in the squad tomorrow against Chorley at Blackwell Meadows.

Manager Alun Armstrong last month told The Northern Echo that playing for Darlington in the National League North would suit the defender.

Armstrong said at the time: “He’s training with us, he’s doing his rehab with Danny and hopefully we can get him up to speed and take it from there.

“Everyone knows what the lad is capable of, let’s just get him through this stage and then see.

“He had the op because he wanted to play for another year or two, and I told him this level, playing part-time and living at home, might suit him at this stage of his career.”

Wheater played in the Premier League and Championship for Middlesbrough and Bolton but last started a competitive game for Oldham Athletic in March 2020 in League Two.

During his formative years he was on loan to Darlington from Boro in the second half of the 2006-07 season, making 16 appearances with his debut coming in the same starting XI as Armstrong.

Armstrong added: “I’ve known Dave for a long time and I nearly signed him in the summer, but he said he didn’t want to come in and then be injured. So that’s credit to him, he wanted to get the op done first and then have a chat.

“Danny has been doing work with him and we’ll see where it takes us.

“He had the op November time, he’s only a couple of months post-op, it was a bulging disc in his back, so the timescale it usually three months before you can play competitively.

“He’s kept himself in decent shape and if he can get back playing that would be great.”