LEADING scorer Reece Styche has recovered from illness and is available for Darlington’s game with Kidderminster Harriers, but Quakers have suffered an injury blow this week.

Styche missed last weekend’s trip to Brackley after being hit by flu-like bug that affected many of the squad, including Gary Brown, Phil Turnbull, Joe Wheatley and manager Tommy Wright.

Some missed both of last week’s training sessions due to the illness that swept through the squad, but all are feeling better ready to tackle Kidderminster at Blackwell Meadows.

Wright said: “He missed training on Tuesday, but he will be fully fit for Saturday and will definitely play.

“There were a few of them struggling. Browny, Phil Turnbull and Luke Trotman didn’t train all week, Greg Mills, Jack Vaulks, Ben O’Hanlon, so it really hit us and it probably showed in our performance at Brackley.

“We looked tired about an hour in, and the two quickfire goals made us feel a little bit worse. They probably felt a little bit sorry for themselves.

“But when you’ve got big characters out of the team it almost gives you a bit of an excuse.”

As well as Styche, fellow key player Stephen Thompson was missing at Brackley, but he returns this weekend after serving a suspension.

However, Tom Portas will again be sidelined after suffering a recurrence of the calf strain that he has been battling back from.

He has not played since January 13, and Wright explained: “He broke down in training on Tuesday, which is a blow to everybody but particularly him. It wasn’t a big workload load either, it was five minutes into a warm-up.

“That’s a concern, we need to get to the bottom of it.”

James Caton has missed two games with a hamstring strain and his chances of being involved against Kidderminster are described by Wright as “touch and go”.

Dom Collins, out since January 10 with a hamstring problem, hopes to return to training next week.