CHRIS HUNTER is feeling fit and is ready for action despite the Darlington defender requiring knee surgery.

He is due to go under the knife for a minor operation during December, and in the meantime is available for selection, which is just as well as manager Martin Gray is without a couple of first-choice players including Kevin Burgess.

He has missed the last two games with medial ligament damage which will keep the captain out of action for another three or four weeks.

Burgess was a virtual ever-present last season, but his unavailability is likely to mean Hunter continuing in the centre of defence when Darlington travel to Bradford Park Avenue on Wednesday evening.

Hunter, who missed the first two games of the campaign due to suspension, was last season Darlington’s right-back, a position now occupied by summer arrival Liam Marrs.

Hunter said: “At the end of last season I would never have thought that this season would start like it has: Suspended and waiting for a knee operation.

“The op will be about December time, hopefully there’ll be a few games called off so I don’t miss any matches! It’s just a small cartilage tear so I’ll be out two or three weeks maximum.

“I’m having no problems playing, it’s just the recovery is a bit more important, I’ve got to make sure I’m icing it and taking painkillers.

“Liam has come in and done well, which I can’t praise him enough for, and he’s kept me out of the team.”

Hunter and his defensive colleagues were kept occupied on Saturday at Nuneaton Town, whose second-half domination was rewarded with just one goal and a 1-1 draw due to Darlington’s rear-guard action.

Midfielder Phil Turnbull was sorely missed after limping off in the first half with a hamstring strain that is estimated will sideline him for two or three weeks.

Quakers were much better when he was on the pitch, starting brightly and taking the lead through Mark Beck.

“In the dressing room afterwards we all said that we thought we were going to win by two or three the way they game started,” added Hunter.

“But Nuneaton grew stronger and we’re finding that in this league teams, when they’re playing at home, are always on the front foot, so you’ve got to dig in.

“There’ll have been some sore bodies the next morning because we were under the cosh for quite a bit of the game and we dug in, it’s just a shame that we let a goal in.

“We thought we could hang on to the lead, but there was constantly shots coming in and crosses. As a back four you’ve got to concentrate for 90 minutes anyway, especially when you’re away from home when you’ve got to get everyone around you and work together.

“A point away from home in this league is not a bad result because you’re not going to win every game.”