DARLINGTON’S preparations for the season conclude this evening when they play what is effectively their final friendly of the summer at Northallerton Town.

They do have a game on Sunday at Blackwell Meadows against former Premier League pros, among them Chris Waddle, Kieron Dyer, Yakubu and Marco Gabbiadini as well as some ex-Darlington heroes.

But that will be a leisurely kick-about, leaving this evening’s game as being the last match that will resemble a test of Tommy Wright’s team before the season starts on August 4 against Curzon Ashton.

He will take a full-strength team, injuries permitting, to the Calvert Stadium for the 7.30pm kick-off and would welcome a challenge from the Northern League side.

“It’s another game to prepare us for August 4,” said Wright.

“We’ll treat them with respect, they’ll come at us and get stuck into us and I would like a challenge. So the lads will have to get themselves up for Wednesday.

“I’m not really sure how the Legends game is going to go, it’s going to have testimonial feel about it, so Wednesday is the last opportunity for the players to get themselves right.”

Jordan Nicholson, one of six summer signings has had an ankle injury lately which kept him out of Saturday’s game with Middlesbrough under-23s as well as the previous week’s game in Eindhoven, while Dave Syers has a glute problem.

Meanwhile, former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur winger Ruel Fox has become the latest former Premier League player to confirm he will putting his boots back on for Sunday’s match at Blackwell.

The game is Quakers’ reward, as well as £20,000, from Marathon Bet for winning a competition to find the best goal celebration in non-league, a prize won thanks to Reece Styche jumping into a mound of snow after scoring against Chorley in January.

Managed by Sir Geoff Hurst, the Legends team also includes: Wayne Bridge, Danny Mills, Julio Arca, George Boateng, Luke Young, Alan Stubbs, Muzzy Izzet, Clinton Morrison, Yakubu, Gabbiadini, Waddle, Dyer and Fox.

The former Premier League players will play against Quakers’ first team in the first 45 minutes, with a side of Darlington heroes of yesteryear playing against the Premier League team in the second half.

David Preece, Darlington’s No. 1 for two seasons after signing in 1997 from Sunderland and now a media pundit well-respected for his goalkeeping analysis is the latest former Quakers to add his name to the roster.

Darlington Legends: Peter Jameson, David Preece, Craig Liddle, Steve Foster, Ian Miller, Alan White, Leon Scott, Chris Moore, Micky Cummins, Martin Smith, Jamie Chandler, Robbie Painter, Amar Purewal, Liam Hatch, Tommy Wright, Graeme Armstrong, Chris Senior.

Kick-off is 2pm on Sunday and it is not all-ticket, with admission £10 for adults and £5 concessions.