Darlington shot-stopper Chris Porter injured a shoulder in Saturday's friendly defeat to Kingstonian and will be out for some weeks - leaving Quakers with only one fit goalkeeper.

The former Sunderland reserve had to be replaced by Andy Collett after being injured in a heavy challenge which led to a Kingstonian goal. His absence means Quakers will compete in the Isle of Man tournament next week with Collett as the only keeper as Keith Finch and Andrew Grainger were released over the summer.

Midfielder Neil Maddison could provide emergency back-up if required although Darlington boss Tommy Taylor has admitted other clubs playing in the tournament - Rochdale, Burnley, Luton, Isle of Man and Wrexham - may allow one of their reserves to get a game for Quakers if need be.

Taylor is hopeful that forwards Barry Conlon (thigh), Mark Sheeran and Danny Mellanby (both sore backs) will be fit for the tournament while Richard Hodgson is suffering with an Achilles problem.

Quakers are slowly working their way though the trialists that have been with the club this summer and Friday night's match against Newcastle should prove a test for at least two of them.

Former Everton left-back Ryan Valentine and midfielder Ashley Nicholls, who was at Ipswich, have both impressed although others have not done so well including Greg Rioch and former Hull man Ben Morley, who have been told their services won't be required.

Assistant manager Mick Tait said: "Ryan has done very well and we'd like to see him on Friday against Newcastle so we can have one final look.

"Nicholls is another one we're going to try and bring back and have another look at. We can't believe Ipswich have let him go. He's such a good player."

A decision on the future of ex-York midfielder Mark Thompson has yet to be made while strikers Neil Gough and KK Opara, who both played for Darlington on Saturday, will not be coming to Feethams.

* Darlington play against Northern League Durham City tonight (6.30pm) at their training ground, Maiden Castle in Durham and supporters are welcome to attend while Quakers' youth team are at West Auckland tomorrow (7pm).

* Sidelined Hartlepool United midfielder Tommy Widdrington yesterday joined his teammates in pre-season training - three weeks after the Pool squad were back.

Influential Widdrington has been out of action since January with back and hamstring trouble - an injury that has left doctors and specialists bemused. Pool chief Chris Turner hopes the former Southampton schemer could be back in action during August.

He won't, however, be part of the Pool side in action at Spennymoor tomorrow night.

After bagging 24 goals in two friendlies in Holland last week, Pool make their first summer appearance on English soil. Striker Eifion Williams will play after missing the Holland tour as his girlfriend gave birth to a baby daughter.

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