Darlington will be without Jordan Robinson for this evening’s match with Ossett Albion as he needs an operation due to the facial injuries sustained at the weekend.

The midfielder had to leave the field in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Prescot Cables after a clash that saw him suffer suspected fractures around his eye, jaw and cheekbone.

Manager Martin Gray said: “It was right in front of me and it was a bit naughty. I don’t think it was deliberate, it goes on in football, but it was a nasty one so he’ll have an operation and he might need a metal plate in there.”

Robinson’s place could go to Tom Portas, who was not called on at Prescot due to a minor lower back problem, though Gray said the former Whitby Town man could have played if necessary.

Gray says he will avoid resting any players at Heritage Park this evening as the team aims to reclaim top spot with a sixth successive victory, which represents a turnaround in form since going six matches in all competitions without a win.

The five wins have come quickly with tonight’s fixture being Darlington’s seventh successive midweek encounter, partially their own doing have been forced into FA Cup replays against West Auckland and Blyth Spartans.

As well as losing out on prize money, the Cup replay defeat to Blyth saw Quakers lose Terry Galbraith for several weeks with a broken toe, but he made his return to the starting line-up at the weekend at left-midfield.

“The Blyth replay was one we could’ve done without, but even though we’ve had a lot of matches we’ve won five in a row and I’m delighted with the boys’ reaction since that Blyth game,” said Gray.

“We don’t have a big squad, the 16 we have are a good 16 and the lads are all putting a shift in so things are going well.

“Terry was a bit tired on Saturday after missing three or four weeks with a broken toe, which looks like it’s healed now.

“He got a good 70 minutes under his belt and it was nice to be in a position to take him off when we were 2-0 up.”

Graeme Armstrong was also withdrawn in the second half of a frustrating match for the striker, who came close to scoring on a number of occasions but was unable to add his eighth league goal of the season.

Gray said: “He gets across defenders and gets on the end of things. Sometimes the ball goes into the bottom corner, but on Saturday it was going wide. The delivery was good, his movement was good and come Wednesday night if we keep creating those chances we’ll score goals.

“He’ll have been frustrated to come off, but he’s a striker and he wants to score goals. I was looking at the bigger picture, I felt comfortable bringing him off.

“He did great last Tuesday at Brighouse and he played well on Saturday as well. The lads will have been heavy-legged and I had Wednesday’s game in mind.”

Salford City returned to the top of the table - two points ahead of Quakers - after last night beating Brighouse Town 2-0.