Darlington skipper Craig Liddle has targeted a return to action at Orient next week after being stretchered off at Bootham Crescent on Tuesday.

It was feared the centre-back would face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after badly gashing his leg in a challenge with a York defender in the 1-0 defeat.

But the fans' favourite has given manager Tommy Taylor a much-needed boost after reverses at Hartlepool and York in the space of four days have plummeted Quakers to fifth-bottom of the Third Division.

Liddle said: "The injury isn't as bad as I first thought.

"After the tackle I looked down and could see the muscle in my leg and I felt sick.

"It didn't hurt a great deal but the sight of it wasn't very nice. The skin was pulled back just above my knee - the gash was about six or seven inches wide."

Liddle was seen by the York City club doctor, who gave him the good news that there was no muscle damage.

"He stitched it up and I went home," he said. "I visited my doctor and I'm hoping to be back for the Orient game a week on Saturday.

"But that might be a little optimistic.

"I get the stitches taken out next Tuesday so we will see what happens after that.

"With it only being damage to the skin it shouldn't take long."

* Hartlepool's Reserve team slumped to their first defeat of the season at Grimsby yesterday, beaten 1-0.

Coach Colin West said: "They have had two shots in the entire game and won and I just can't believe it.

"It may only be a reserve game but it still means a lot to me. I don't like losing and we need to put an end to this theme of not converting possession into goals sooner rather than later."

Meanwhile, Camerons Brewery have joined forces with Pools by agreeing a three-year sponsorship deal.

* Third Division strugglers Swansea City are poised to unveil Brian Flynn as their new manager with Kevin Reeves as his assistant.

Flynn was in charge of Welsh rivals Wrexham for 12 years but has been seeking a new club since leaving the Racecourse Ground a year ago. Swansea's poor start to the season under player-manager Nick Cusack has left the club seeking a change of direction.

Read more about the Quakers here.