DARLINGTON'S promotion hopes have been dealt another crushing blow after leading scorer Alun Armstrong was ruled out for three weeks.

The 11-goal striker sustained a calf injury in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Kidderminster Harriers and will miss part of Quakers' crucial run-in.

With Clyde Wijnhard serving the final game of a three-match ban at Bristol Rovers today, Craig Russell will partner recent loan signing Akpo Sodje in attack at the Memorial Ground.

After a light training session yesterday morning Quakers travelled to the south-west.

Rovers - 17th in League Two - are unbeaten in five games and claimed a 2-1 win at Notts County at the weekend.

"Bristol Rovers will be a very difficult game," admitted assistant manager Mark Proctor. "They spent a lot during the summer but they've under-achieved.

"They're languishing in the bottom half and I'm sure they'll be desperate to beat us.

"I've experienced these kind of situations as a player and we have an opportunity to put things right on Monday.

"You're only as good as your last game and unfortunately we were very poor against Kidderminster.

"We can only apologise to the fans, who we've let down, but hopefully we can put that right against Bristol."

While Russell will earn a recall this afternoon, manager David Hodgson will consider making several other changes after Saturday's debacle.

Adrian Webster suffered no reaction from a hamstring injury as a second half substitute at the weekend and could return to the starting XI, while Adolfo Gregorio and Neil Wainwright are both vying for starts.

"Obviously after that kind of performance we have to consider what's best," admitted Proctor. "The fact is we didn't perform, which is just not good enough.

"I'm sure David and myself will have a good chat because there are some important decisions to make."

Craig Hignett should be fit to face Chester City at the Williamson Motors Stadium this Saturday.

He has missed the last seven games but will train this week after a groin injury.

Skipper Craig Liddle will undergo a knee operation tomorrow and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

The 33-year-old is likely to announce his retirement from the game in the summer.