Despite a mixed debut on Tuesday, Bert Bossu is likely to keep his place in the Darlington team for this weekend's Bank Holiday double-header.

Sam Russell missed the Carling Cup defeat at Hartlepool with a calf injury and he remains a doubt for Saturday's game at Chester City, followed by Monday's home game with Rochdale.

Bossu can expect to be given the nod unless Russell makes a rapid recovery but last night his chances of being available were rated at 70/30 against.

Physio Paul Gough said: "There is not a lot you can do with the injury until the blood clot disappears from in his calf.

"He is healing drastically, on Monday he could hardly walk so I ruled him out of Saturday completely but he walked in today okay so that is encouraging.

"But at this stage he is still a big doubt. Touch wood he will be alright but I'd say it is 70/30 against."

The French keeper deputised at Victoria Park but will have to improve drastically if he is to stand any chance of keeping his place in the team when Russell returns.

Bossu was at fault for a goal in his one and only game on loan for Accrington last Saturday before recalled to Quakers following Russell's injury at Grimsby which occurred in the dying minutes.

Shelton Martis was substituted with a back injury on Tuesday but the Dutch defender is expected to be available for selection on Saturday.

Darlington's third keeper is teenager Jack Norton who played in yesterday afternoon's reserve defeat to Scarborough for whom former Quaker Ian Clark played.

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