CHRIS ELLIOTT has reclaimed Darlington’s No. 1 spot, and Alun Armstrong says the onus is now on Liam Connell to earn another recall.

The pair have each enjoyed spells as Quakers’ first-choice this season, Connell returning the team at the beginning of the month after Elliott conceded three goals in a defeat at Chester.

  • Armstrong sets 21-point target for Darlington
  • But Connell was unavailable for last week’s game at Hereford, which could have proven problematic had Elliott not recovered sufficiently from illness for the trip to Edgar Street.

“Liam was at work, he had an event that he couldn’t get away from,” explained Armstrong ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Brackley Town.

“Chris had been ill all week and had missed training. He missed Tuesday and came in on the Thursday but had to drop out because he was struggling.

“That’s what happens, circumstances can change quickly and that’s what I say to the lads out of the team – you never know what is about to happen.

“Chris found himself out of the team and all of a sudden he is back in and did well enough to keep his place, so it’s up to Liam to dig his heels in and show that he wants to get back in.”

Also hoping for a recall is midfielder Omar Holness, who came off the bench to score an equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Hereford.

He has not started a league game since December 7, after which he lost his place to new signing Sean Reid, but Armstrong admitted: “He’s been a different class, the lad.

“I had a chat with him before the game and explained the situation, he would’ve started against Leamington when I needed to freshen things up and he had been brilliant in training.

“He came on at Hereford and it was a difficult game to come into because we were under the cosh at the time, but he seems to come up with these little moments.

“He’s been brilliant in training, his attitude is top drawer so you cannot fault him and he probably deserves a start in the team.

“There’s places up for grabs.”