DARLINGTON striker Graeme Armstrong has been readmitted to hospital with an abdominal injury suffered in the dying seconds of the final game of the season on Saturday.

Armstrong scored in the 2-0 play-off final win over Bamber Bridge at Heritage Park, but in injury time sustained an injury when colliding with goalkeeper Lee Dovey, who was sent off for his challenge.

After driving home after the game, Armstrong spent Saturday night in hospital and was discharged the next morning after being diagnosed with severe internal bruising.

However, last night Armstrong still felt unwell so called an ambulance and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and after a series of scans was then transferred to the Freeman Hospital where he is expected to remain a patient until Friday.

“I thought everything was okay to be honest, I just gradually got worse,” he told The Northern Echo.

“It turns out that when the keeper’s knee went into my chest my pancreas has pushed against my spine and spliced it into two parts. I will be in here for a few days.”

Dovey and Armstrong collided outside the penalty area, the pair chasing a 50-50 ball with the score 2-0 and the final whistle seconds away.

The incident meant Armstrong missed out on the celebrations that followed as Quakers celebrated promotion.

Armstrong, who was at Gateshead when they won promotion from the Conference North via the play-offs in 2009, added: “Maybe I should’ve seen sense and not gone in for the challenge myself. It’s just the way I am.

“I’ve experienced the euphoria of the play-offs before, but it was hard sat in the physio room hearing the cheers outside. But it’s for the rest of lads and the fans where it might be a one-off experience. I’m just delighted to be promoted.”

Armstrong joined the club a year ago from Whitby Town and played an integral part in the team’s promotion, scoring some vital goals among his total of 26 for the season.

Darlington defeated Spennymoor Town three times – twice in the league and once in the play-offs – with Armstrong scored four times in total, while he also netted in wins over Bamber Bridge and Northwich Victoria, both of which reached the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Darren Williams, manager of Armstrong’s former club Whitby, is already looking forward to Quakers’ visit to the Turnbull Ground.

Darlington have been regular pre-season visitors to Whitby – they have played there in each of the last four summers – and in 2015-16 will head to the North Yorkshire coast for an Evo-Stik Premier Division Fixture.

“It counteracts the fact that FC United of Manchester are up and Darlington will bring just as many,” said Williams, speaking to the Whitby Gazette.

“It will be nice to get them on a Bank Holiday or a Saturday. You’ve got Blyth still there too and there are some big games, especially from a crowd point of view and financially, it could be masssive for us.

“I think it will be an interesting league.”

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