DUTCH hot-shot Clyde Wijnhard has dropped his strongest possible hint yet that his long-term future remains in the North-East with Darlington.

The stocky striker has made an immediate impact at the Williamson Motors Stadium, scoring in all three games since joining the club on a free transfer earlier this month.

Wijnhard signed an initial one-month deal with the club, on a pay-as-you-pay basis.

Quakers boss David Hodgson has been suitably impressed with the 30-year-old's contribution and is keen to tie the player down on a longer contract.

And while Wijnhard remains open-minded, the forward believes the ball is in Hodgson's court.

"At the moment I am here for a month and that is my agreement with the manager," said Wijnhard.

"I just want to show him what I can do and score as many goals as possible.

"I can't complain with what I've done so far but I think it could be better.

"Whether I stay depends on the manager and not me.

"I will keep my options open because you never really know what can happen.

"We've got a very good chance to make something of the season and it would be nice to be a part of that."

Hodgson will hope to strike a deal this week when he opens talks with the player's agent.

Since joining Leeds in a £1.5m deal in 1998, Wijnhard has represented English club's at every level in the Football League, having had spells at Huddersfield, Preston and Oldham.

Wijnhard is as flamboyant as the car he drives - a Volkswagen Beetle - and his love for the game is clear, at any level he plays. It was at Ajax where Wijnhard's football education began, in the world-renowned academy which has produced the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, and Edgar Davids.

"It doesn't matter where I play, as long as I am enjoying my football," said Wijnhard.

"If you're a professional footballer, it doesn't make a difference, whether you're playing at a higher division or a lower division.

"People know that I have played at a higher level and they will expect a lot from me.

"It is up to me to show them what I can do every week. I'm with Darlington now and I can guarantee the manager I will give at least 100 per cent.

"There are a lot of players on the bench who are desperate to get in so we all have to make sure we're good enough to play in the team."

Wijnhard's 89th minute piledriver was too little, too late for Quakers at the weekend and the Dutchman was typically blunt in his assessment of the 2-1 defeat at home to Bury.

He admitted: "We weren't at the races today. We didn't close them down so it wasn't a good game for us.

"Everybody knows about the quality in this side but if we're going to give teams time and space it's game over for us.

"The problem for me today was the midfield. They provide balance to the team but if they are not doing their job we will get punished."

And the former Leeds striker has already turned his attentions to Tuesday's League Two visit to Notts County - Quakers' first trip to Meadow Lane since 1997.

After seeing Quakers waste a chance to go sixth on Saturday, Wijnhard believes the next two month's can make or break their season.

"It's a long season but hopefully the boys will pick it up on Tuesday night," said Wijnhard.

"We had two good games before Bury and we have to show the manager that we can bounce back.

"Between now and Christmas we need to collect as many points as possible and make sure we are up there with a shout.

"As long as we can nick points away from home and win our homes games we will go far."

And despite maintaining his 100 per cent scoring record for Quakers on Saturday, the former Ajax trainee added: "I might have scored three in three but that is not enough."

Wijnhard also had words of comfort for strike partner Alun Armstrong, who had several good chances to add to his three-goal tally at the weekend.

He said: "Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't and today they didn't for Alun unfortunately. He was all over the place today and I think he deserved a goal. We have big names in this side but it's all about how we perform as a team and not individuals."

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