GRAEME ARMSTRONG’S recovery from major surgery continues apace and he will be involved when Darlington’s pre-season gets underway next week.

Following a collision with Bamber Bridge goalkeeper Lee Dovey in the final match of the season, the striker spent almost the entirety of May in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and had half of his pancreas removed during an eight-hour operation.

Now back at work at Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham where is a PE teacher, Armstrong is in light training and while a full recovery will take time, he is encouraged by his progress.

“I’m feeling loads better,” said Armstrong. “I’ve been back in training as of a week last Monday and gradually building up my fitness. I started running on Sunday and I was in the gym for the first time a week last Monday.

“I was back in work on Monday as well. It’s nice to be back to normality because I enjoy my job and I’m not used to the time off.

“I will not be ready to start full pre-season training, but I should be there doing an adapted program.

“I’m just waiting for a slight bit of swelling to go down, but there’s no more pain now which is great. There’s a bit of swelling still and until that goes I don’t want to push myself too far.”

Darlington’s first friendly is at Durham City next Saturday, when a reserve XI will play at 1pm followed by the senior team at 3pm.

It will come too soon for Armstrong, but he added: “After the progress I’ve made in a month I’d like to think I’d be able to fully involve myself in training in a month’s time, maybe even two-three weeks. There’s no pain, just a little bit of discomfort.

“I’m jogging on the treadmill at a low pace and there’s no problems there. Gradually I’ll build it up. It’s more muscle lost which is a problem, that will need building back up.”

He is due back at the Freeman for a check-up with surgeon in mid-July, by which point he would have been in Australia for three weeks on a school trip.

On doctor’s advice, however, he had had to cancel his place on the trip, a tour for the school’s sports teams, as a precaution in case he feels ill while 10,500 miles away.

Quakers meet for training on Tuesday at Longfield School, Darlington, though many of the squad have this month been undergoing fitness sessions under the eye of Quakers left-back Ian Watson, a qualified strength and conditioning coach.

Armstrong made one visit, though was given a series of exercises less demanding than those his team-mates were given, and it will be a similar scenario for the next few weeks.

He added: “The lads have been doing a lot of fitness work over the summer, but I’ll not be up to the speed that they are. I might join in now and again with certain things, but I’ll be doing a lot of jogging.

“It’s going to take time and once the school holidays start I’ll have a lot of time to get myself really fit and fully recovered.”

Meanwhile, tickets remain on sale for Darlington’s match with Sunderland on Thursday, July 9 at Heritage Park (7.45pm).

For the next week they are available to individual Darlington1883 Limited shareholders (ie, not a member of DFCSG) and also to fully paid up members of the DFC Supporters Group.

From Friday, July 3 they will be on general sale.

Available from Quaker Retail, open 10am-1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, adult tickets are £12 with concessions (under 16s and over 60s), £6. This game is all ticket and tickets cannot be bought on the day of the game.

*There are places available on a twice-weekly fitness class, called Metafit, being run by Darlington defender Alan White.

Described as high intensity interval training, White said: “Metafit is ideal for anyone playing any individual or team sport, it’s the reason I’m still playing football at 39 years young!

“It’s the perfect way to improve your fitness, shed the weight and strengthen your body and mind.”

The classes take place at Hummersknott School, Darlington, on Wednesdays (5.45pm and 6.15pm) and Fridays (6pm and 6.30pm). The cost is £4 per class.