NEWCASTLE UNITED starlet Richard Offiong will today put pen to paper on a loan deal when he moves to Darlington.

Quakers' boss Mick Tait has been chasing an extra striker and his search paid off last night when the big front man agreed to move.

He played for almost 40 minutes in Wednesday's England Under-20 game with Italy at the Stadium of Light and comes highly recommended by St James' Park chief Freddy Shepherd.

Quakers' chairman George Reynolds admitted: "I've been talking to Freddy Shepherd about him and he said he's a big strong lad.

"Bobby Robson has been very, very good in letting him come to us because up to seven teams were after him on loan.

"It took a bit of persuasion to get him, because even though he is about fifth in line for a place at Newcastle they didn't want him to go. But he is a good lad to have available for us.''

Offiong, a regular in Newcastle's Under-19 side, will join his new teammates in training for the first time this morning and will be in line for a debut against Southend tomorrow.

A satisfied Mick Tait admitted: "We need to bring another player in because we've got strikers at the club who are not match fit.

"I've got no problem with the players that have been playing because we've started scoring again.

"But I just feel we could do with a bit more competition for places."

Meanwhile, midfielder Ashley Nicholls is urging fans to make up for their recent football-free Saturdays by showing their support for the team tomorrow.

Quakers have spent the last three Saturdays on their travels and Nicholls hopes the fans will be in good voice to welcome the players back for the visit of Southend.

"We've had a few good results away from home so it will be nice to come back and see how the crowd respond to us.

"Hopefully they will get behind us and we can start picking up some more wins," said Nicholls.

A few more wins are exactly what caretaker boss Mick Tait could do with. While Tait can sing the praises of a side clearly rejuvenated under his guidance, just five points separate Quakers from bottom club Swansea.

Nicholls admits the club should be in a stronger position with valuable points dropped in games which he thinks should have been won.

"I think there's been a few times in the last few games where we should really have taken three points, especially against Lincoln and Scunthorpe," said Nicholls.

"That's the way it goes sometimes. There'll be other times where we don't have much of the play and end up winning."

That's a scenario Nicholls witnessed on Tuesday night when neighbours Hartlepool crashed out of the FA Cup to two late goals from Southend.

"I went to the game and both teams looked OK but I think they're both beatable," said Nicholls