DARLINGTON’S Chris Hunter has undergone surgery to correct damaged ankle ligaments but remains hopeful of playing again this season.

The defender has not played since sustaining a broken leg in August during a match at North Ferriby, when he partially dislocated an ankle and ruptured three ligaments.

The surgery took place today, and Hunter has quickly adopted an optimistic view in pinpointing late March as his comeback, though he is aware that the return might not come until the beginning of next season.

He said: “I have had a pin put through the bottom of my tibula and fibula to steady them and then had the ligaments repaired.

“I’m hoping for the end of March, or the start of next season.”

Hunter started the season as Quakers’ first-choice right-back and part of a settled defence as Darlington took ten points from 12 in their first four fixtures.

The North Ferriby fixture, a 1-1 draw, was the sixth of the season, and the team’s form has since nosedived, Darlington winning only two of 19 matches in all competitions and as a consequence are 15th in the table.

Quakers could fall further this weekend as they are without a match, their next fixture being at home to Salford City a week on Saturday.