After a summer of trying to bring in extra firepower, Darlington manager David Hodgson has reassured fans that he is edging closer to finally solving the striker crisis.

The net has been cast far and wide with players from across the continent arriving to prove their worth. None has been up to standard, but by 3pm on Saturday, Hodgson reckons he'll have a new forward among the ranks.

He's been on the trail of two unidentified forwards and is sure one will arrive in time for the visit of Grimsby, while Plymouth Argyle striker Stewart Yetton has impressed since arriving on trial on Monday.

Canadian international Rob Friend has been lined up to join in September after his Norweigan club, Moss FK, finish their season.

The 6ft 4in 23-year-old has won four international caps, playing his last game in January against Barbados, but has yet to score.

Until Friend's arrival Hodgson is working on other targets and is close to signing one of the unnamed front men.

Hodgson said: "He's a youngster who we watched a few times at the end of last season. We've had reports on him during pre-season and Mark Proctor is going to watch him again tonight.

"His attributes are that he works hard, closes people down and gets himself a goal or two."

Although he didn't find the net, Yetton played well in a 3-1 friendly win at Guisborough on Monday, and Argyle reserves' top scorer in the Pontin's Holidays Combination last season caught Hodgson's eye in training yesterday.

Plymouth have signed two new strikers so, despite having recently signed a two-year deal, the 19-year-old is available on loan.

Argyle manager Bobby Williamson said: "Stewart is a young talent I have high hopes for and I think he needs to be playing first team football at this moment in his career, so Darlington will maybe get the benefit.

"David Hodgson will assess him and, hopefully, everything will come together and he will be able to play first team football there.

"It's good for his education and his career to be playing first team football and Darlington is a good stage for him, I feel.

"I know David quite well and he was looking for a striker so I told him we had a kid who I thought would fit his bill.

"He will have a look at him and, hopefully, he will take him.

Yetton has made two League appearances for Argyle, both as a substitute, the last a seven-minute run-out in April at Hartlepool.

Despite making progress, Hodgson is frustrated at being three days away from the first game of the season and still being without a striker to replace Barry Conlon.

He points the finger at two clubs in the Premiership who he feels have let him down, saying: "The fans aren't always aware of the situation but we had found the two strikers we wanted to bring in, they were both quick as hell and capable of scoring goals at this level. Mark Convery was going to be the link-man behind them, playing through-balls and creating goals. But then it all went out of the window as people let us down.

"It's frustrating because we've got some very, very good youngsters at this club. All we need now is two potential 15-goals-a-season men to complete the picture."

A condition of going through administration means Quakers can have no more than 20 professionals, so Hodgson plans to make room for a striker by sending David McGurk out on loan.

The defender has been suffering from a back problem.

* A strong Darlington team won 1-0 at Billingham Synthonia last night, with trialist Yetton netting.

QUAKERS: Price, Kendrick, Liddle, Hutchinson, Wainwright, Thomas, Close, Yetton, Clark, Russell, Convery

Read more about the Quakers here.