MARK PROCTOR last night backed Alun Armstrong to return to his best back in the North-East with Darlington.

Quakers assistant boss Proctor believes Armstrong will only improve with every game he plays after joining on a free transfer last week.

And while Proctor knows the 29-year-old is short of match fitness, he is confident the former Middlesbrough striker can resurrect his career after being released by Ipswich.

Armstrong made his debut in the draw with Northampton last Saturday, where he came through the full 90 minutes and Proctor said: "We only intended to give Alun an hour but we had to leave him on.

"He still has a lot of work to do but I thought he did well considering it was his first start of the season.

"Alun only needs to get a few more games under his belt and he will be close to full fitness.

"He spent a couple of days training down in Ipswich earlier this week and he'll have had another couple of days training with us before Saturday.

"With each game he plays he will get fitter and I'm sure he will do a very good job."

And while Armstrong will make his second start at Macclesfield tomorrow, former Boro teammate Craig Hignett will not be travelling.

The 34-year-old has failed to recover from a groin strain in time and Ian Clark has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Former Leeds striker Clyde Wijnhard trained with the club yesterday.

The 30-year-old is hoping to resurrect his career back in England after a money-spinning move to Dubai fell through earlier this month.

David Hodgson is considering a loan move for Middlesbrough-born defender Chris Hogg as a replacement for Joey Hutchinson, who has been ruled out for seven months with knee ligament damage.

Hogg has yet to make a first-team start for Ipswich, three years after joining the club from York City in a £150,000 deal.

* Darlington's football in the community scheme is offering a matchday experience package for boys and girls, aged 6-14.

The cost is £15 per child and will include a training session, McDonalds meal, a ticket for the game and the chance to play on the Williamson Motors Stadium pitch at half-time.

For more information contact football in the community officer, Kevin Stonehouse on 01325 387019.

* It hasn't been a bad week on the personal front for Jim Provett.

The Hartlepool United goalkeeper first picked up the award for the best save in North-East football last season - a stunning double block against Wycombe - and 24 hours later offered a fresh number of offerings for the 2004-5 honour.

Pool were knocked out of the Carling Cup at Crystal Palace, going down in extra time, but Provett kept the Premiership side at bay for long periods.

He took all the plaudits, with a string of wonder stops and admitted: "It was great week to get the award for the North-East Save of the Season. It caught me by complete suprise.

"It was a real honour to get it. There's lots of good goalkeepers in the North-East and I would put it as the highlight of my career.''

Provett will be back on the team bus this morning as Pool head for Milton Keynes and tomorrow's game with the Dons.

He added: "It was only late on when Palace got on top. We settled well very early on and looked comfortable. But no-one here thinks they are too big for the team and everyone is in it together."

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