MIDFIELDER Dave Syers has given Darlington an injury concern after limping out of Saturday’s friendly with Middlesbrough.

He was replaced just 23 minutes into the match with Boro’s under-23s at Blackwell Meadows, manager Tommy Wright later explaining he had pulled a glute muscle.

Syers is unlikely to play at Northallerton Town on Wednesday evening, so is now hoping to be fit for Quakers’ opening game of the season at home on August 4.

Darlington lost on Saturday 1-0, Nathan McGinley scoring the only goal from close-range following a corner taken by Ben Liddle.

Boro were on top for lengthy spells, and Quakers were thankful to goalkeeper Jonny Maddison for making a handful of good saves to prevent further goals in what was Darlington’s final home friendly before the season begins against Curzon Ashton a week on August 4.

“We knew that Boro would have more possession of the ball and that was probably a good dress rehearsal before we play Curzon Ashton,” said Wright, who was without Dom Collins due to illness, while an ankle problem kept Jordan Nicholson out of action on Saturday.

“Curzon will knock the ball around and play football on the deck, and that on Saturday made us move, it gave us a bit more fitness in the legs.

“We could be more clinical in front of goal and we can create more. At times we didn’t play an obvious ball into the box and tried to play a more penetrating ball instead. But Middlesbrough read it really well and nullified our threats for large spells.”

Darlington have lost three of their four friendlies so far - 5-1 to Motherwell and 3-1 to PSV Eindhoven under-23s – and have beaten Sunderland 1-0.

Wright added: “I’d rather have played four and won four, but the teams we have chosen to play have been good clubs so we knew it would be a little tougher.

“The lads are gelling well. On Saturday we played some nice football, but only sporadically, I wanted it pieced together well, they did it in spells.

“We’ve got plenty of work to do on the training pitch, and I would rather have that instead of saying ‘it’s perfect’, because then the lads could get complacent.”

Darlington will send a full-strength team to Northallerton, and then they have the Legends match on Sunday at Blackwell (2pm).

Among those confirmed to play so far are Chris Waddle, Marco Gabbiadini, Craig Liddle, George Boateng, Julio Arca, Kieron Dyer, Wayne Bridge, Joleon Lescott and Danny Mills.

More names will be confirmed this week, including an ex-Darlington goalkeeper and a former Manchester United defender.

Tickets will be available at the gate for the game, which cost £10 for adults and for £5 concessions.