As Darlington Football Club prepare to welcome back their prodigal son this afternoon, the man himself admits he is stepping into the unknown.

Still coming to terms with his shock return to management with Quakers, David Hodgson has no idea of what to expect when he takes charge of his first home game.

What is certain is that Hodgson will receive a hero's welcome when he steps out on to the pitch before today's visit of Lincoln City.

As the new boss last night completed his third signing in two days with the arrival of former Middlesbrough youngster Andrew Kelly, he believes today's game will be an unusual affair.

He said: "It's going to be really strange for me. I never thought I would come back to manage Darlington, nor did I ever think I would go back into management at all after being out of the game.

"I don't know how the hell I'm going to feel or how I'm going to react to it.

"The most important thing is that at quarter-to-five I hope I'm coming off that pitch after my first home game in charge with a victory."

Kelly, released by Boro last season, has already had trial spells with Hartlepool, Grimsby and Oldham. He has joined Quakers on a non-contract basis.

On Thursday Hodgson completed the loan signings of Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and Sunderland full back Craig James.

Hodgson, who hopes to complete his fourth signing on Monday, feels his recent additions will provide Quakers with a much-needed boost as he bids to halt an alarming run of six straight League defeats, with the club second from bottom in Division Three.

"We have one or two new faces so that will help with a different voice in the changing room and out on the pitch," said Hodgson.

"I like to have balance in the team. I like to have left-siders on the left side and right-siders on the right and I like the players to know what they're doing.

"All I've tried to do is keep the balance there by bringing Craig in from Sunderland because he's a naturally left-sided player."

James can also play on the wing and he could fill the void left by Alan Morgan, who returned to Blackburn this week.

Turnbull will come in for Michael Price, who is relegated to bench duty.

"I also made the decision to bring in young Ross because I thought Pricey needed to come out of the firing line," said Hodgson.

"Hopefully when the opportunity comes along he'll be in there in a better frame of mind.

"The two games coming up will be a deciding factor because these are bombardment teams."

Lincoln will be without manager Keith Alexander, who remains in a stable condition following brain surgery.

The Imps boss collapsed on Tuesday night just hours after attending the same reserve team game as Hodgson.

"I was at the match with Keith on Tuesday night and I spoke to him during and after the game," said Hodgson.

"Not for one moment would you think that the chap walking away from the same game as me was being rushed to hospital an hour later.

"It just puts everything into perspective. I just hope to God that he makes a speedy recovery.

"At the end of it, when all is said and done, people come out in the end stronger for it and hopefully that's the case for Keith Alexander."

Assistant manager Gary Simpson will take temporary charge of team affairs, where he is expected to welcome back former Boro defender Richard Liburd.

The full back missed the FA Cup win over Brighton with flu but should be fit enough to return.

However, Simon Weaver and Peter Gain are slight doubts, also with flu.

Quakers are boosted by the return of defenders Craig Liddle and Ryan Valentine.

Liddle missed last week's FA Cup defeat at Hornchurch through suspension, while Valentine sat out Quakers' last two games with a groin injury.

Hodgson, meanwhile, has welcomed Liddle's return, while insisting his decision to hand the captaincy over to Neil Maddison was the right one.

"The only thing I have to say to Craig Liddle is 'same again'," said Hodgson.

"I don't need to say anything else because I know exactly what I'm going to get.

"There's been a little bit of a thing made about the removal of the armband but people have taken the picture and distorted it.

"He's in exactly the same mental state for Saturday as I'm sure he has been for every other game he's ever played."

Hodgson will be without David McGurk and Danny Mellanby, who start two-match bans following their dismissals at Oxford a fortnight ago.

Read more about the Quakers here.