Darlington skipper Craig Liddle believes the current deadlock in the transfer market could provide an opportunity for some of the club's young guns to prove themselves.

Quakers boss Mick Tait has so far failed to make a single summer signing with the club's stringent wage structure proving a major stumbling block in attracting new players to the club.

Tait has missed out on several targets, and while Liddle remains hopeful of welcoming some new faces before the season kicks off at Hull City on August 9, he feels the current situation could prove helpful to the likes of David McGurk and Mark Sheeran.

"It's probably the smallest squad I've ever seen and it is a chance for some of the young lads to show what they can do," said Liddle.

"We've seen quite a bit of them in our two games and they've done very well.

"We still need more experience and a few more bodies in but at the moment it doesn't seem to be happening.

"Mick has been working very hard to get players in but at the end of the day players are going to go where the best offers are and you can't blame them for that."

Liddle is expected to play against his former club today as Quakers take on Middlesbrough behind closed doors at Hurworth. Tait had intended to field a weaker side this morning but news that Boro are to use several first-team players may prompt the Quakers boss to name a stronger line-up.

"We've had two very physical games but this should be a different kind of game altogether and I'm sure it will be a good test for the lads," said Liddle.

Liddle himself expects to play for the first 45 minutes as he continues to make steady progress from a summer knee operation.

"I've managed to take part in everything with the rest of the lads and I feel really good," he said.

"I felt a slight twinge when I turned on it at Blyth but apart from that I've felt OK.

"That was probably a reminder that it is not 100 per cent yet so I do have to be careful."

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