Darlington manager Mick Tait will be hoping trialist Michael Price is the right man following yesterday's devastating news that keeper Andy Collett faces up to four months on the sidelines.

A day after losing out on Marco Gabbiadini, who signed for Hartlepool on Thursday night following four days training with Quakers, Tait's plans for the new season took another hammer blow.

And now on-trial Price, released by Leicester City at the end of the season, will be handed the chance to impress in Quakers' first pre-season friendly at Shildon's Dean Street today (kick-off 3pm) after it was revealed Collett would miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury.

Newcastle-born Price linked up with Quakers last week as Tait sought back-up for Collett, following Chris Porter's release at the end of the season.

But Collett's absence has now presented the 20-year-old with an ideal opportunity to stake his claim for a permanent switch to the Reynolds Arena.

"The ball is right in Michael's court," said Tait.

"He's going to be playing now, whereas before he would have shared a few games with Colly."

And while Quakers will asses Price over the coming weeks, Tait is expected to bring in another goalkeeper, possibly on loan, as cover for Collett.

"If Michael does well there could be something here for him but I still need to bring in another keeper," said Tait.

"We need two goalkeepers so there'll be at least one coming in for three months."

Collett is due to go under the surgeon's knife on Tuesday after failing to recover from the injury which ruled him out for eight games last season.

The former Middlesbrough keeper returned to training with the rest of the squad last week but after a consultation with a specialist on Thursday, he has been advised to undergo the operation.

"We think a lot of Colly at the club and it's a huge blow to lose him for so long," said Tait. "He was struggling quite badly towards the end of last season with it but he played on.

"We thought a rest during the summer would cure it but unfortunately it hasn't. He had a scan the other day and it still has a tear in it.

"If he carried on playing it could threaten his career.

"The surgeon has said the worst-case scenario would keep him out for four months so there's still a chance he could be back in two."

Tait, meanwhile, insists the club are better off without Gabbiadini after the former Quakers striker agreed to join derby rivals Pool.

Gabbiadini was released by Northampton at the end of last season, and the 35-year-old was expected to rejoin Quakers, only for Pool to step in and snatch the striker from under their noses.

"I'm disappointed with him by the way he's behaved this week but I'm not disappointed to lose him one bit and neither are any of our players," said Tait.

"In my opinion he used us after agreeing to join.

"The lads have seen him in his true light and it's safe to say the lads had a few choice words for him!

"After that it was all laughing and joking and they're pleased he's out of the way.''

Pool also have Richard Hope on trial after he trained with Quakers on Monday and Tuesday and Tait added: "He can ask Hartlepool if they want to take anyone else from here because they have taken a striker, defender and kit man already this week.''

l Matthew Spring insists John Gurney should resign as managing director of Luton after the Football League expressed ''grave concern'' at the plight of the club.

Luton will be visited by the FA's Advisory and Compliance Unit next week after Gurney failed to satisfactorily answer League enquiries into the club's takeover by a consortium still shrouded in secrecy nearly two months after buying into the Hatters.

And midfielder Spring said: ''I think the best thing for Luton would be if Gurney goes. It is a worrying time. Nobody knows what's going on. The things I've heard aren't good.''