Tommy Taylor's depleted Darlington take on buoyant Bristol Rovers today and admits his squads ever-decreasing number is a constant worry.

Quakers are without six players today through either suspension or injury, while Rovers are high on confidence having enjoyed a 5-3 win against Taylor's former club Leyton Orient on Boxing Day.

With Brian Atkinson doubtful with a stiff neck, Darlington are down to the bare bones, which means Taylor has been forced to dip into youth ranks to produce a starting XI, with David McGurk, Mark Sheeran and Martin Smith all being called up for first-team duty.

Darlington must cope without four players through suspension Mark Ford, Barry Conlon, Simon Betts and Phil Brumwell while two are on the sick list. Craig Liddle is two weeks away from a comeback and Adam Reed must wait another week before playing again. Taylor rates Atkinson's chances as 50/50.

All of which means Taylor, who has spoken before of his theory that producing a good football side is similar to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, has had to reassemble the pieces.

He said: "It is worrying, not having as a full a squad as we'd like, but there's not much I can do about it.

"We've got a lot of injuries and that's just unlucky, not anyone's fault, just unfortunate. But two of the bans Ford and Conlon shouldn't have stood because their fouls were never red-card offences.

"I'm confident they can all do a job and so are the players. They'll all be running themselves into the ground because they'll be desperate to stay in the team.

"They wouldn't be at the club if I thought they weren't up to it."

The worst problems are at the back, where Taylor must fill voids at right-back and centre-half. Paul Heckingbottom looks set to resume his central-defensive duties alongside David Brightwell, where he looked comfortable in the FA Cup win over Altrincham three weeks ago.

Moving Heckingbottom leaves a gap at left-back which looks likely to be filled by Steve Harper, who is in line for his first start since the 3-0 defeat at Shrewsbury in early November.

Taylor, a great believer in youth, has been impressed by Sheeran in the reserves so he'll be on the bench, while McGurk, who looked accomplished in his 45 minutes at Altrincham, has played at both right-back and centre-half for the reserves, so it's between him and Smith to replace Betts.

Atkinson felt uncomfortable in training having woken with a stiff neck this week.

"Brian is 50/50 for Saturday," said Taylor, who is already without Atkinson's midfield partner Brumwell, who could be replaced by Neil Maddison.

If Atkinson doesn't make it, Brian Healy is on standby.

Rovers are finally showing some good form and Garry Thompson, who had been caretaker manager in the absence of Gerry Francis, who stood down this week after being on compassionate leave due to family problems, was yesterday installed as their new manager.

* Darlington midfielder Mark Kilty played ten minutes of a practice match at North Shields on Thursday. The 20-year-old has been sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury since April but emerged unscathed from the friendly.

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