Darlington manager Gary Bennett might pitch new signing Kevin Kyle straight into the fray at Boothferry Park today.

The Scottish Under 21 international was signed on a month's loan from Sunderland this week, and Bennett is tempted to play him from the start as Quakers try to rectify their failure to convert chances into goals.

Bennett hasn't decided who should make way for the youngster and could even play three forwards, with Kyle playing alongside Glenn Naylor and Lee Nogan, who scored the winner last season, but he won't change his team's style.

"I'm looking at one or two options," said Bennett. "But Kevin is definitely going to play a part somewhere.

"I haven't brought him in just to sit on the bench - I've brought him in to be used.

"I'm happy with the way we play football. I'm not going to change our style because that will probably create more problems for ourselves.

"If we're going to use Kevin properly, then we have to keep the same style so he gets the right service.

"And if we do that, then hopefully he'll finish the chances off."

Darlington skipper Martin Gray likes what he has seen of the tall striker.

"I watched him play for Sunderland in a couple of reserve games last season, in a sort of Niall Quinn role, and he was very impressive," said the former Sunderland player.

"And people I've spoken to in Sunderland rate him highly.

"The gaffer has done well to get him, because there were a lot of First Division clubs after him.

"Hopefully, he'll give us a boost".

Kyle is hoping to make an impact after agreeing to a one-month loan.

He is hoping for a change in fortune after he failed to make any impact after a similar stint with Huddersfield.

Kyle said: "I didn't make a start at the McAlpine Stadium but I did get my first taste of senior football and I am sure I will learn something from playing some third division matches."

The 19-year-old is a major coup for Quakers boss Bennett, who is understandably delighted with Kyle's arrival.

Bennett said: "A posse of clubs from higher divisions have wanted to get him on loan and we are privileged to get him.

"We'll have to wait and see how things go, but if the clubs agree and the player agrees, then maybe he can stay longer."

Bennett believes a good result will lift morale again and put them back into the top half of the table, from which they have slipped after four games without a win.

"The confidence of the players isn't low at the moment, but a win will give them even more confidence.

"We've not been playing badly in recent weeks, it's just that we haven't been putting our chances away.

"It's not as if we're being over-run or outfought. Two wins in the next two games will put us right back in contention.

"I'll be happy to stay where we are, or improve our position over the next couple of weeks, and then hopefully the injured players will come back and strengthen the squad."

Quakers have had problems with early goals recently, and in their last three games have given the opposition a goal start inside the first ten minutes.

"Obviously, I want us to start the game better," said Bennett.

"Conceding an early goal is a problem which is costing us - it's a mental thing which must be sorted out."

Gray will be having a few words with the rest of the team before they go out on to the pitch.

"It always make things hard when you go an early goal down. We must cut our mistakes out early in the game, because they are costing us.

"If we can get through the first 20 minutes without conceding a goal, then with the abilitywe have in the side I think we'll win."

Hull, meanwhile, have also had problems scoring goals.

"They've scored just12 this season, three fewer than Quakers, but they are improving after a poor start to the season, and are unbeaten in their last five games.

There will be a reunion of sorts this afternoon.

Hull manager Brian Little isstill highly thought of by many Darlington fans for lifting the club from theConference to the old Third Division a decade ago.

Former Darlington skipper Kevan Smith and former players Dave Moore and Phil Brumwell are also both at Hull.

Little said: "I've often wondered if and when this time would come and now it has. I make no bones about it - Darlington mean a lot to me.

" I had two wonderful years there and I've always looked for their results, but winning is the name of the game in this business and it won't be hard for me to try to beat them.