PLAYERS could leave Darlington in the midst of their recruitment drive, admits Tommy Wright, but one player he is determined not to lose is Harvey Saunders.

Having made his league debut in January the pacey striker has been frequently involved this season, most often as a substitute though three times he has been in the starting XI, including last Saturday at Kidderminster Harriers.

In his three games in charge it was the first time Wright had included Saunders from the start, and the 20-year-old proved his worth by playing a role in securing a 3-3 draw for Darlington.

Saunders’ talents on the pitch coupled with an eagerness to improve his game has ensured Wright wants to work on improving a player he believes could play at a level above the National League North, and has moved to squash speculation linking the player with a move from Blackwell Meadows.

“After every training session he has approached me for extra work,” said Wright. “I love working with young lads and see Harvey very much as a project with a long-term future at this football club.

“He won’t be making sideways moves, if he goes anywhere it will be into the pro game because that’s where I want to take him.

“If Harvey Saunders was to go I’d want a lot more money than we have sold David Ferguson and Adam Bartlett for, but the club do not want to sell him. I see him as a massive asset and I’m not going to put a for sale sign above his head.”

Saunders had previously played in the Northern League, and Wright admits the Staindrop-based striker has raw talent and will benefit from more coaching.

“I see it as a challenge,” added the manager. “He’s got all the attributes and the first thing I like is the fact he’s a great kid and wants to learn.

“I see him as a central striker, but he needs to be coached the movement. At the minute he is very comfortable running at people because of his pace, but he needs work on having his back to goal and running in behind, because at the minute he’s reactive and not proactive.

“He needs work, but I love doing that kind of coaching and it’s my job to get him where I want him to do.”

While Wright is adamant about keeping Saunders, he has been working hard on bringing in a striker from a fellow NLN club and is understood to be close to concluding a deal.

The player in question was a team-mate of Wright in his playing days and has also played under the Quakers manager at one of his previous clubs, but whether he is able to play tomorrow remains to be seen.

He will make it four new signings for Wright, who has already brought in Josh Heaton, Luke Trotman and Greg Mills, and a goalkeeper could yet join too.

Ed Wilczynski has replaced Bartlett between the sticks, leaving Quakers without a reserve on the bench last Saturday.

New goalkeeping coach Lee Barrass, formerly with Blyth Spartans, has joined the club, and Wright said: “I’ve been offered a lot of goalkeepers, but goalkeepers don’t come out on loan to be the number two.

“I’ve had a chat with Ed and told him he will get the No. 1 shirt back. Matty Bancroft was there on Saturday but didn’t quite make the bench.

“Lee is working them and we will make a decision on what we do regarding the No. 2”

The arrivals of Heaton, Trotman and Mills came in the aftermath of Ferguson, Bartlett and Mark Beck being sold, so Wright says there is no pressure to offload more players.

But in the light of the new signings, he admitted: “Players that have been in the starting XI might now find themselves out of the starting XI and everybody wants to play.

“Some people might then want to move on, others might want to stay where they are and fight for their place.

“The squad was short on numbers, we’ve brought a few in, there’s no pressure to sell but circumstances can change for players and clubs.

“There is no immediate rush to get rid of anyone.”