TOMMY Taylor admitted last night that he has tried and failed to sign ten players in recent weeks as he strives to strengthen Darlington's squad.

Taylor is free to bring in the two fresh faces he believes will transform his club's fortunes after allowing Jon Cullen and Phil Hadland, both of whom were on short-term contracts, to leave.

But as Darlington prepare for Saturday's crucial Third Division game with Bristol Rovers on the back of a seven-game winless run, Taylor admits he has been driven to distraction by his failure to draft in any more new players.

The Feethams manager has received a major boost this week with news that inspirational captain Craig Liddle could return against Rovers after recovering from a leg injury.

If Liddle does make Saturday's game, he will replace Matt Clarke, whose head injury will preclude him from figuring this weekend.

But Liddle's return has not dissuaded Taylor from attempting to sign another central defender plus a striker, even though the proposed deal to bring Marco Gabbiadini back to the North-East is dead.

Taylor said: "I've been on the phone all week, trying to bring more players in.

"I've been trying my hardest and I've tried to get at least ten players in over the last three or four weeks.

"Even when we were winning games, we were trying to fetch people in. The squad want to see the squad get stronger.

"At the moment, the Marco Gabbiadini deal is off. I'd have loved to have had him here and I got on well with him over the phone.

"He was a big name for this club but I also know he can score a goal, and at the moment we need someone we can score a goal."

Taylor's frustration at failing to make a new signing, with Carlisle United centre-back Stuart Whitehead still proving elusive, has been alleviated by the impending return of Liddle.

He has not played since he was hurt in the 1-0 defeat at York City on September 17 and Darlington have suffered in his absence.

But Taylor said: "Liddle has been training all week, though he got a little knock on his leg the other day.

"That's been sorted out now, though, and he's got a great chance of playing on Saturday. We'll leave it for the doctor to decide on the morning of the game.

"He's a massive player for us. He's a great leader and a good player, and we've missed him."

* Both Wrexham and Everton are holding inquiries into the pitch invasion which marred Wayne Rooney's night of history.

The Everton youngster installed himself as the club's youngest-ever goalscorer with a late double in the Merseysiders' 3-0 Worthington Cup win at the Racecourse Ground.

But the night was overshadowed by crowd trouble near the end of the match. Referee Alan Kaye suspended play for several minutes as police fought to bring the incident under control.

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