Quakers’ defender Lee is facing up to knee surgery (From The Northern Echo)

Quakers’ defender Lee is facing up to knee surgery

12:25pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Darlington FC News By Steph Clark

DARLINGTON’S interim manager Craig Liddle admits there is no timescale on how long defender Graeme Lee will be out for.

The central defender has not played since the home loss to Fleetwood on January 21 – and that was after a threeweek break following the loss to Gateshead on New Year’s Day.

Lee, 33, is still visiting specialists to determine whether he needs surgery.

Since his summer move from Notts County, the former Hartlepool stopper has been a mainstay in the side, making 24 appearances, but Liddle accepts he will have to plan without him.

“We’re not going to get Graeme Lee back for the foreseeable future,’’ admitted the stand-in boss.

“He’s been to see a specialist and he’s had a scan. Now he needs to go back to see the specialist to see what’s required, but more than likely he needs surgery.

“I think there’s a cartilage tear and some other problems that he’ll need looking at.”

Liddle, however, is sure Ryan Bowman will be fit to face Wrexham this weekend despite a toe injury.

Attempts to bring a new striker to the club have come to nothing, leaving Quakers extremely light in attacking options.

With Bowman being the only recognised striker at the club, Liddle has had to rely heavily on 19-year-old to play as a lone forward.

The former Carlisle teenager was part of a Darlington side that played Spennymoor Town in a friendly on Saturday after the game with Mansfield Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch and it was during that Bowman’s toe problem flared up.

“He’s had it a while and it’s nothing major. He’s just got a bruised toenail which either needs to be taken off or drilled,’’ said Liddle.

“You get them quite frequently and I had loads of them, so it’ll not keep him out of any games because it’s just uncomfortable rather than an injury.”

Liddle is still working hard behind the scenes to bring in reinforcements to his threadbare squad, but his hands remain tied because of Conference rules.

But despite that, potential new players are still being lined up and there was an interesting trialist on show against Spennymoor.

The player in question was a friend of Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, who turned up to watch his pal play, but his appearance was cut short due to a groin injury.

Liddle said: “He did alright, but got injured. We’ve invited him to train, but we’ll have to wait until he’s fit and then have another look.

“He’s pulled his groin so will be out for a week so it might be next week before we see him again.”