STEVE STAUNTON is ready to bring Paul Arnison in from the cold to solve Darlington’s defensive crisis after confirming that Mark Bower requires surgery on his damaged ankle ligaments.

Arnison wasn’t expected to feature again in the first team after being hauled off against Hereford six weeks ago.

The Hartlepool-born utility player was one of four members of the squad whom the manager had deemed surplus to requirements but Arnison is about to follow fellow fringe player Mark Convery by forcing his way back into the manager’s plans.

Stand-in skipper Ian Miller’s hamstring problem makes him a doubt to face Northampton Town on Saturday while Andrew Milne has curtailed his loan deal and returned to Leeds United; further cutting Staunton’s meagre resources to the bone.

Arnison has impressed in training recently and he joined the first team who were put through their paces yesterday at Sunderland’s Academy of Light facility after Quakers Durham training pitch became waterlogged.

Steve Foster could also feature this weekend as the manager attempts to plug a defence that has conceded 19 goals in five successive defeats.

“Mark Bower must have an operation on his ligament. If he doesn’t he could break down and have problems for the rest for his life,” said Staunton, who confirmed that Dan Groves will be sidelined for several weeks after a scan revealed he has a hairline fracture of his foot.

“Our results have been very poor but the rest of the squad are in great spirits and I can’t fault their effort in training.

We still have Fossie (Steve Foster) and Arnie (Paul Arnison) who’ve been training hard.

“Their attitude in training and in the friendly games proved they still want to be part of Darlington and if they get a chance it’s up to them to take it. Fossie still has a game without setting the contract trigger off so he can start a game if needed.

“Saturday was a massive blow. We lost two defenders when the week before we started looking like we were putting together a settled back four that looked reasonably comfortable. We want don’t want to be making so many changes but we’ve not had much choice with injuries and such like.

“I am disappointed with the errors we are making when conceding goals, I can’t explain it. A pub team would do better. It’s scruffy chances that are going in against us.

Gary Smith is also another injury doubt after undergoing treatment on a niggling hamstring problem.