Darlington hope to announce the arrival of at least one new player today as Mark Cooper closes in on his January transfer targets.

The manager revealed after Tuesday's win over Histon that he hoped to complete a deal for a "flair player" who has Premier League experience.

Cooper met with the player yesterday, but he has not given up hope of also signing Marc Bridge-Wilkinson from Carlisle United.

Bridge-Wilkinson's successful three-month loan with Quakers ended last weekend and he is now back at Brunton Park where he has been offered a settlement on the remaining six months of his contract.

The 31-year-old, who played an hour of a friendly for Carlisle's reserves against Glasgow Rangers on Tuesday, has been offered an 18-month deal by Darlington.

Cooper is awaiting his response, and the manager said: "There's no progress to report at the moment. We'll keep trying with that one.

"I don't think he's talking to other clubs, I think he thinks he's worth more than he's getting at Carlisle and than what we're offering.

"Hopefully he wants to come and play for us rather than play in Carlisle's reserves. Fingers crossed he makes the right decision."

Should Quakers reveal a new signing today he would become the club's arrival during January following defenders Adam Quinn, Greg Taylor and striker Liam Hatch who turned his loan into a permanent deal.

Cooper concedes, to accommodate the new recruits, there will be outgoings from The Northern Echo.

But he also points out the number on injuries currently affecting his team selection.

He said: "If you look at our bench on Tuesday, we are stretched.

"We've got Paul Terry, Chris Senior, Gareth Waite, Michael Brough and Michael Smith all out injured. They are all players who would either start or be on the bench, they're all in or around the first-team.

"We've had too many injuries but I think it's just a coincidence that most of them have been knee injuries.

"Chris could be back a little sooner, we might have him back by the middle of February, we'll have to wait and see."

Kevin Austin, Joe Clarke and Kelvin Jack are all available, and Cooper added: "There's some players that will have to go because we don't think they're what we want.

"That's just the way football is, you have to balance the books but, to be fair to the chairman, he has said if you see the right player go and get him."