DAVID Hodgson is preparing to add some attacking weight to Darlington's quest for promotion by signing a Premiership striker on loan.

Hodgson last night revealed discussions will take place today, with a view to signing the teenager until the end of the season.

Quakers have scored just one goal in their last three games, prompting Hodgson to step up his search for a forward. Leading scorer Alun Armstrong has not scored in his last six games and strike partner Clyde Wijnhard in his five previous league outings.

With 14 games to go Quakers lie just outside the play-off zone.

"There is a possibility of a player coming in before the weekend and I will be putting a call in," said Hodgson. "At this stage I think it would be helpful to have an extra body in.

"We've shown that we have sufficient cover to deal with injuries in defence and midfield, but we are still short on strikers. That is an area I have been looking at and hopefully we will get the go-ahead before the Wycombe game."

Hodgson yesterday ran the rule over Sunderland midfield duo Jonjo Dickman and Richie Ryan in Quakers' reserve-team defeat at home to Huddersfield Town.

And the Quakers' boss hopes to take another look at the pair, in particular Dickman, whose strong running and intelligent passing impressed Hodgson.

"Jonjo just showed that little bit more than Richie," said Hodgson. "I will be speaking to Mick McCarthy and hopefully we can take another look at them both."

Hodgson will seek permission from Sunderland to play the pair in next week's behind-closed-doors friendly with Curtis Fleming's former club, Irish side St Patrick's.

Fleming came through yesterday's reserve game without any problems and should return to the side at Wycombe at the weekend. The former Middlesbrough defender has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.

An injury-time strike from Akpo Sodje sealed a 1-0 win for Huddersfield's second string.

Darlington: Price, Fleming, Mason, Gibson, Kendrick, Wainwright (Janes 74mins), Dickman, Ryan, Logan, Parkin, Convery (Hughes 74mins) Subs (not used): Norton, McLeod, Pattinson

* Darlington-bound Jamaican Damion Stewart missed Harbour View's game with Portmore United last night with a slight knock.

Read more about the Quakers here.