GARY BROWN is in line for his second Darlington debut as he is in the squad that takes a lengthy trip today for an FA Trophy tie at Sutton Coldfield Town.

The defender this week returned to the club from Shildon and having sat out the midweek win at Blyth Spartans in the League Cup is a contender to feature in the second qualifying round tie.

Brown’s arrival, along with that of fellow new recruit Wilson Kneeshaw, has helped alter Quakers’ squad since their last Trophy game.

Two weeks ago Quakers overcame Mossley 3-2 when they made several changes, including giving a runout to Czech striker Jakub Hymr, but a stronger line-up is expected today.

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Manager Martin Gray admitted at Wednesday’s fans’ forum that players would be leaving, and within 24 hours it was announced Rob Youhill was being made available for transfer, while Hymr has now signed for Norton & Stockton Ancients.

Kneeshaw’s arrival, however, bolsters the forward ranks squad and adds an extra dimension to Darlington’s attack. The former Middlesbrough academy player scored the first goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory.

With Kevin Burgess and David Dowson both successfully making their comebacks from injury against Blyth, Gray has a strong pool of players at his disposal, while Alan White is also available.

The defender was this week handed a four-match ban by the FA as punishment for an act of violent conduct following the home defeat to Marine on October 3.

His suspension begins in seven days’ time when Grantham Town travel to Heritage Park, but if White plays today he would come up against a forward he faced in the Football League.

Luke Rodgers played for Shrewsbury, Crewe and Port Vale, while he scored twice on the night Notts County clinched the League Two title with an emphatic 5-0 win at The Northern Echo Arena in April 2010.

He returns from suspension to spearhead the attack of a Sutton Coldfield team which has been out of form, losing their last five league games.

Royals manager Neil Tooth said: “It’s not just his goals, it's his experience and knowhow and the runs he makes – he never gives defenders a rest and that in itself causes them problems and creates openings for other players.”

Tooth believes his side face a tough test today.

“It would be nice to get a big Conference side down here in the Trophy but we need to get past this test first and we've got the most difficult draw we could,” he said.

“Darlington are near the top of our league at the moment and are favourites to win it – they have a budget and a fan base we can only dream of. Five years ago, they were in the Football League. But although our recent run has not been great, we know that we can compete with any team at this level on our day.”

The game will be played on an artificial surface. Sutton installed a 3G pitch in 2011 and during the week it is used by the local community and for corporate events.

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