DARLINGTON have received a double boost ahead of tomorrow's game at Hereford with Tim Ryan and Julian Joachim both returning to training.

They have missed the last two matches, with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

But both trained yesterday and, assuming neither suffers an adverse reaction, will travel with the rest of the squad today.

They could be joined by a new team-mate as manager Dave Penney hopes to sign a young goalkeeper on a permanent basis.

Penney has long wanted three goalkeepers at the club and he was last night attempting to finalise a deal for the unnamed keeper who, if he signs in time, will be on the bench tomorrow if Andy Oakes does not recover.

He suffered a hip injury in the warm-up before last Saturday's home game and trained yesterday but his chances of being available tomorrow are considered 50/50.

Striker Pawel Abbott is definitely out. The £100,000 signing has missed the last six league games with a knee injury but this week received an injection, a combination of cortisone and painkiller, which Quakers hope will speed up his recovery.

A specialist reported that Abbott has torn fibres around his knee, but he hopes to begin light jogging today and may return to the Darlington squad within a fortnight.

During his spell out, the former Swansea forward has been reduced to cardiovascular work so would take some time before reaching full match fitness, especially so as was struggling to reach 100 per cent after missing three weeks of pre-season.

Despite a niggling knee injury, Johann Smith also travels to Hereford, as does fellow loanee Matt Green.

Both are hoping to improve on their showings in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chesterfield.

Neither was at his best but Penney retains his faith in them, and he said: "They're only young boys and it's very easy when you're a senior pro to lift yourself for the next game. Jack Lester, the Chesterfield striker, had a poor game last Saturday but with his experience and mental strength he'll probably score in his next game.

"Young boys haven't got that inner strength. It's a confidence thing, its about self belief and not all young boys have got that."

Quakers travel to Edgar Street aiming to maintain their record of conceding just one goal in their six away games so far.

Hereford lie sixth in the table but Penney says Darlington, unbeaten in six league games, are full of confidence.

He said: "Hereford have had a good start but we've only lost one game so we're confident we can go anywhere and get a result.