DARLINGTON get their pre-season campaign underway tonight when an injury ravaged squad travels to Blyth to face Scottish Division One side Ayr United.

New signing Neil Maddison misses out after a hernia operation, as does Phil Brumwell and long-term injury victims Paul Heckingbottom, Mark Kilty, Gary Himsworth, Glenn Naylor and Martin Gray.

Gary Bennett is likely to field a pair of trialists at Croft Park, although French striker, Abu Tangara won't feature. "It's the first team squad with one or two others in there as well," said Bennett.

"We'll be looking at different parts of the game, we'll be looking at fitness and other areas of the team because it's the first game back.

"Abu be playing in some part of the pre-season programme but not this time.

"He's a big strong powerful lad, he's broad and well-built too. But he technically he's good as well. There are one or two things to iron out with his agent before things can get going but he looks good and we'll see him in some matches."

Taranga, 26, was at Paris St Germain before moving down the league ladder to play in France's lower divisions.

Quakers' second summer signing, Barry Conlon, will play some part against Ayr who finished as runners-up last season.

Bennett said: "Barry Conlon is part of the squad but we've got a lot of competition up front with the likes of Adam Marsh, Clint Marcelle and Kirk Jackson."

Tonight's match kicks-off at 7.30pm and precedes Friday night's return to Croft Park when Blyth, who drew 1-1 with Ayr on Monday night, will be the opposition.

Any chance the Feethams club had of signing Sunderland's Neil Wainwright appear to be diminishing, after Bennett admitted he's finding it hard to ask the player to quit the Stadium of Light.

"You've got to ask him to come down three levels, there's a transfer fee involved and his wages to sort out,'' he confessed.

"Neil Wainwright is still contracted to Sunderland Football Club and it's not easy to persuade someone to leave a club like that."

Darlington's friendly at Spennymoor on Saturday has been cancelled as the Brewery Field club have just relayed their goalmouths. Quakers will visit Billingham Town instead (3pm).

Quakers' Worthington Cup First Round clash at home to Sheffield United has been brought forward 24 hours to Monday, August 20 - the same night Hartlepool entertain Nottingham Forest. Darlington agreed to the switch as the First Division outfit have a game scheduled for the following Thursday.

Read more about the Quakers here.