SIX months after leaving, Stuart Elliott returns to Feethams today as his Carlisle teammates look for their first win of the season against in-form Darlington.

Although his time at Feethams came to a premature end in March this year, the tenacious midfielder will be fondly remembered for his tremendous winner from 40 yards in the League Cup at Nottingham Forest.

That victory's anniversary was on Thursday, but since then the London-born midfielder has endured a rollercoaster 12 months - a short-lived transfer to Plymouth and then a move back up the country for a trial with Scarborough and a move to Carlisle.

Having previously spent time at eight clubs, Elliott finally looked to have made the right move when David Hodgson took him to Feethams. He quickly impressed with some wholehearted displays.

But his form disappeared and with it his Darlington career. Ironically, Elliott's last game in a white shirt came in Quakers' last meeting with the Cumbrians, a 2-0 win at Brunton Park in March. Today he'll come up against arguably the strongest midfield in the division.

"It's a big game for him," admitted Quakers boss Gary Bennett. "He'll be fired up like he always is and he'll come here and think he's got something to prove and that's the way he is.

"When he was here he did well but the club has moved on since then."

Elliott, who is on a month-to-month contract at Carlisle, is excited about today's fixture and said: "It's certainly a big game for us both. When I was there they saw it as a big game as well.

"I'm really looking forward to it, I've got a few mates there and hopefully we'll take a good crowd with us and get the win we need to kick-start our season."

For the first time since the opening week of the season Darlington have enjoyed a blank midweek, allowing players to recover from various injuries which have plagued the squad.

Neil Maddison and Mark Ford have felt no reaction to their groin and back injuries respectively, while Paul Heckingbottom and Phil Brumwell both came through 90 minutes in Tuesday's reserve match at Doncaster.

But midfielder BrianAtkinson is doubtful as he's struggling to overcome an ankle injury sustained in the last home game - a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers almost two weeks ago. The injury kept him out of last week's draw at Lincoln which saw Quakers stretch their unbeaten run to four games.

"The squad are feeling confident, despite last week's draw, and I believe that confidence has been reflected in the recent performances," said Bennett.

"The team is bonding well and the team spirit and togetherness is obvious on the pitch. A lot of it has to do with the quality of the players we've brought in this season.

"That was obvious in the game against Hartlepool. Coming back from 1-0 down, and to win against any club is an achievement but when it's your local rivals then it shows what character the squad has. Carlisle is just as big as the game against Hartlepool, although they are near the foot of the table."

Carlisle's Irish boss Roddy Collins has spent £100,000 on bringing fellow-countryman Ritchie Foran to Brunton Park.

Bennett admits Foran will pose a threat. He said: "Ritchie Foran is a good player and should be watched.

"Their manager is bound to say good things about him just like any managers does. We all rate our own players and he's no different.

* Goalkeeper Andy Collett and skipper Craig Liddle were named in the Division Three team of the week yesterday after solid displays in last week's draw at Lincoln

Read more about the Quakers here.