Darlington skipper Craig Liddle last night conceded the odds of playing again are stacked against him - but has vowed not to hang up his boots without a fight.

Liddle will see a specialist in Manchester this morning, where he will be told whether or not he can carry on playing.

And, while the 33-year-old has admitted retirement from the game is imminent, he will explore every possibility during today's consultation.

Liddle has suffered a catalogue of injury setbacks in recent years - his latest a detached muscle.

The former Middlesbrough defender has been restricted to 22 appearances this campaign after suffering a knee injury, a shoulder complaint, a double hernia and back problems.

He admitted: "I'm not hopeful but I'm willing to give anything a go to save my career. If it's meant to be it's meant to be.

"I'm going to see the specialist as a last resort, although I have been told they can't really do much with these kind of injuries."

Last season Liddle cancelled a knee operation and overcame a stomach problem to help Quakers avoid relegation.

And the Chester-le-Street-born stopper insists he would have no hesitation in playing through the pain barrier in Quakers' quest for promotion.

He said: "If I'm told I can take injections to get me through then I will carry on playing.

"If I'm being honest with myself I've probably knocked two to three years off my career by playing through injuries.

"I'm not bitter about that because I've done that on my own accord. In hindsight it was probably the wrong thing to do, but looking back I would like to think I have played my part in helping the club."

Liddle is due to undergo a knee operation next Tuesday, but just as he did last season, the defender would be willing to put that back if he receives the green light today.

As a result of playing with a double hernia earlier this season, Liddle sustained micro-fracture in his right knee.

"I would quite willingly cancel the knee operation until the end of the season if it means I can play," said Liddle.

"It all depends what the specialist says in Manchester."

* Darlington reserves host Boston this afternoon (2pm). Trialist strikers Kevin Braniff (Millwall) and Akpo Sodje (Huddersfield) are expected to play ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline.

* Doncaster have made a club record transfer bid for Stockport striker Warren Feeney.

Rovers have offered £150,000 for the 17-goal forward, who has been included in the Northern Ireland squad to face England at Old Trafford on Saturday.

* Sheffield Wednesday have rewarded teenage striker Drew Talbot with a new two-year contract.

The 18-year-old forward has signed a new deal keeping him at Hillsborough until the summer of 2007.

* Port Vale have signed Bristol City midfielder Tony Dinning on loan until the end of the season.