MOROCCAN international Hicham Zerouali is the latest player manager David Hodgson has turned to in his search for a striker after agreeing to join Darlington on trial.

The 27-year-old arrived in the country on Sunday evening and played in yesterday's reserve-team defeat at Lincoln City.

Despite Quakers' recent goal glut - four from their last two games - a forward remains Hodgson's priority.

The Quakers boss stepped up his efforts to bring Zerouali to the club over the weekend following his latest snub from Middlesbrough for Danny Graham.

Hodgson has been told by Boro boss Steve McClaren that Graham will not be available for loan until October.

With no guarantees that Graham will be allowed to join Quakers next month, Hodgson watched from the stands as Neil Maddison's side were beaten 1-0 at Sincil Bank yesterday.

And while Zerouali failed to make a scoring contribution, Hodgson will continue to asses the 5ft 7in playmaker, who spent three years in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen.

" Hicham has only just arrived but he did ok for us," said Maddison.

" Obviously we will need a bit more time to take a good look at him so that we can see what he is all about.

" We will continue to asses him in training and hopefully give him a bit more match practice."

Zerouali was one of three trialists involved yesterday. Patrick Lusemba and Adrian Webster were also involved.

Forward Lusemba has joined the club on the recommendation of Bradford City boss Colin Todd, while New Zealand-born Webster - a midfielder - is looking to resurrect his career back in England after returning to Australia following a knee injury.

Webster was brought to England by Charlton boss Alan Curbishley in 1998. But after failing to make the grade at the Valley, spells at Colchester, Margate and Maidstone followed.

Maddison was particularly impressed with Webster, saying: " Adrian looked very comfortable on the ball and I think he is somebody who would certainly give us something extra.

" He's been in Australia after suffering a knee injury but he seems like a good athlete and I thought his passing was excellent."

DARLINGTON: Price, Mason, Maddison, Fleming, Hughes, Coghlan, Convery, Webster, Scartascini, Zerouali, Lusemba

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