REECE STYCHE is in line to become the first Darlington player to receive an international cap for ten years.

The striker is in the Gibraltar squad for two UEFA Nations League games this week, the first at home to Macedonia this evening and then away to Liechtenstein on Sunday.

Styche qualifies to play for Gibraltar via a grandparent and is hoping to add to the solitary international cap he gained in 2014 against the Faroe Islands.

Should he make an appearance this evening at the Victoria Stadium or on Sunday he will become Quakers’ first international footballer since Franz Burgmeier in the 2008-09 season.

Midfielder Burgmeier became the first Liechtensteiner to play in England and during his single season with Darlington made several appearances for his country, notably in October ’08 at the Millennium Stadium against Wales, when Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy played.

Burgmeier, now 36, played his 112th and final game for Liechtenstein earlier this year.

Styche’s international call-up means he misses Darlington’s game on Saturday at Blackwell Meadows against AFC Telford United.

If Terry Galbraith returns from a calf injury then manager Tommy Wright will feel able to return Simon Ainge to the front line having filled in the at the back lately.

Wright said: “It’s not something you would choose to happen, you wouldn’t choose to lose your captain and top scorer, but you do miss players through injury and suspension over the course of the season.

“There are times when you cannot select the team you would like, it happens, as we have seen lately with the injuries and the suspension for Joe Wheatley, so I’m just thinking of it in those terms.”

Quakers are aware they may qualify for compensation from UEFA due to losing Styche for Saturday and have made initial inquiries over the matter.

League games below Championship level are postponed if a club has three or more players called up for international duty.