RELIEVED to put his summer of uncertainty behind him, Josh Gillies is looking forward to getting his Darlington career underway after becoming Quakers’ latest signing.

The attacking midfielder was a free agent after leaving Gateshead and has dropped down from the full-time ranks to become semi-pro again with the aim being to help take Darlington back up the leagues.

Since 2013 he has played been in the Football League and Conference with Carlisle United, Cambridge and Gateshead, and he joins a Quakers side about to embark on the National League North.

He said: “I think every player wants to play as a high as they can, I want to, and Darlington are club looking forward and wanting to get back to where they were before, hopefully we can achieve that.

“I was 18 or 19 when I played in this league with Blyth and it was similar to the Conference. It’s a tough league and there will be a few teams having a go, but I don’t see why we can’t get promoted and back into the Conference where the club was a few seasons ago.”

Quakers boss Martin Gray is delighted with his latest acquisition, whose arrival comes in lieu of Aran Wearmouth being out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.

“For me he’s a Football League player,” said Gray. “He’s someone that every club in this division would love and I’m delighted to get his signature and hopefully he will prove to be a top player for us.

“I was always looking to bring in a top player once we found out Arran was going to be out. It’s not a short-term injury so we had to make sure we brought someone in.

“It’s important that we make sure we have good competition and Josh coming will make sure everyone ups their game. Nobody will be leaving at this minute in time.”

Fifteen goals in 45 games for Gateshead during Gillies’ first spell with the Tynesiders helped secure him a 2013 move to Carlisle, then in League One.

He made only 12 appearances in two seasons and was loaned to Cambridge, with whom he won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2014, FC Halifax and then back to the Heed in March 2015 before making the move permanent and last season he scored four goals in 23 games.

But the former Whitley Bay ace was on the sidelines for a lengthy spell due to injury and was released by Gateshead manager Neil Aspin at the end of the campaign, since when he had trials with Kilmarnock and Northampton Town.

The 26-year-old, who can play on either wing or behind a striker, said: “The manager that took me to Carlisle, Greg Abbott, didn’t last long, I think I was only there five games before he got sacked. The new manager came in and he just didn’t fancy me.

“Last season at Gateshead we started off on fire, on top of the league. I got injured and needed an operation so I didn’t play for about four months and that was frustrating. It was horrendous watching the lads play when you’re injured.

“I’m glad to get things sorted and now I can get my head down hopefully help us get up the league. Trials can be a bit awkward. You’re trying to do your best, but sometimes you find yourself trying too hard. I think Martin has seen me play a few times, he rang me last week and it’s happened pretty quickly.

“My head’s been all over the shop to be honest, so I’m glad to finally get things sorted and looking forward to having a few training sessions before the first game. I trained with Darlington on Tuesday and it was great, very professional. I already know a few of the lads because I’ve played with a lot of them before.”

Gillies will link up with former Gateshead team-mate Phil Turnbull, who used social media to label the latest Darlington arrival as “the non-league Iniesta”.

“I think I’ve got a decent touch but I wouldn’t be going that far,” laughed Gillies. “He’s prone to exaggeration.”

Gillies will wear a Quakers shirt for the first time on Saturday when Darlington play a behind closed doors friendly against a Football League club.