IN the aftermath of the morale-sapping defeat at Scunthorpe United in the LDV Vans Trophy on Tuesday, Danny Mellanby gave Darlington a much-needed boost when he revealed he won't be out of action for as long as first feared.

New boss Tommy Taylor has taken over during a slump in form, with Quakers having won just once in the last seven league and cup games, scoring only five goals in the process, while influential defender Craig Liddle is out of action until February.

So Taylor will have been relieved to hear Mellanby should be back on the pitch in four to six weeks.

"I'm pleased, because the worst was feared," said Mellanby, the team's leading scorer with five goals.

"At first they thought it was the cruciate ligaments, which would have meant near enough a year out, and the club already have three players in this position.

"It's unusual for a club to have one, never mind three, so to have another would have been unbelievable.

"I've strained medial ligaments and they should heal themselves, but I need an operation this week to repair a tear in the cartilage."

Although Mellanby will be back by Christmas, Taylor wants new blood in his starting line-up.

Tuesday night's display can only have increased that desire, although he may have to off-load players first, with Kirk Jackson rumoured to have non-league clubs interested in his availability.

"I just said to them: 'don't get me upset because I'll start having a row with everybody then'," said Taylor.

"There's a lot of talent in the dressing room and if they let themselves down they're going to let the club down as well.

"I gave Kirk Jackson a run-out and it's the first time I've seen him apart from on the training ground. He needs a few games in the first team to give himself a go at it. But we can't leave it too many games before we get a few bodies in."

Nationwide Conference club, Nuneaton Borough are keeping tabs on striker Jackson, who started only his second game of the season at Scunthorpe.

The 25-year-old is yet to fulfil the potential demonstrated when scoring 40 goals by February for Worksop Town in the UniBond Premier League last season.

Read more about the Quakers here.