Steve Watson’s first signing as Darlington manager is defender Scott Barrow.

The 35-year-old defender played for Watson at both Gateshead and York, and has now followed Quakers’ new boss to Blackwell Meadows.

After suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in May 2022, Barrow was out of action of 17 months until making his comeback in November, but Darlington say he is “now back to full fitness”.

Watson said: “Scott was my captain at Gateshead and he then followed me to York. He is a very experienced player and capable of playing left back, left centre half or left wing back.

“He’s a good defender but also has good quality going forward and has the ability to create and score goals, which in our situation is vital.”

Among his previous clubs are Tamworth, Macclesfield, Newport County and Merthyr Town before joining Gateshead in 2017.

He moved to the Minstermen in the summer of 2020 and played an integral role in the side that won promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2021-22.

Barrow will be in the Darlington squad that plays at fellow strugglers King’s Lynn on Saturday.