Darlington return to action this evening at Luton Town with a new striker in the ranks following the transfer deadline day arrival of John Campbell.

The 22-year-old put pen to paper on an 18-month contract yesterday after leaving STL Northern League club Newcastle Benfield.

Campbell scored 25 goals for Benfield this season and is in the squad that travels to Kenilworth Road today.

Mark Cooper may not plunge Campbell into the action from kick-off, but the manager clearly rates the striker, having paid Benfield an undisclosed fee which could rise depending on appearances and performances.

Quakers chairman Raj Singh said: “The deal is performance- related which suits all parties, with an option to extend it by a further year or possibly two, if we want to.

“We’re delighted to be giving the lad a chance but the deal works for us as well.”

Campbell was in the youth section at Manchester City and recently attracted the attention of League One clubs Swindon and Leyton Orient where he had trials.

His arrival was not the only transfer activity at Darlington yesterday as Cooper extended Aman Verma’s loan from Leicester City until the end of the season while Quakers also brought in former Stoke goalkeeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton on non-contract terms until the end of the season.

Louis-Hamilton replaces Kelvin Jack, who has been released.

Campbell adds another forward option for Cooper who was struggling for fully fit strikers for Saturday’s home match with Kettering.

Saturday’s postponement at least handed Liam Hatch more time to recover from the facial wound he sustained last week and this evening he faces the club that he played on loan for last season.

The striker scored four goals in 22 appearances, 12 from the bench, in an injuryhit campaign while on loan from Peterborough United.

Hatters boss Richard Money said yesterday: “He is a handful and I’m sure he will want to do well tomorrow night, especially coming back to the stadium. They are a big and aggressive team.

“Them and Grimsby were the two teams that came down and they will give us a similar challenge to Grimsby last week.

“We will have to be at our best to get the result we all want.”

This evening Quakers aim to begin clawing their way back up the table having fallen to 13th during their weekend inactivity.

Luton, who were also without a game, have lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions while in their squad will be striker Amari Morgan-Smith, a player Cooper held talks with earlier this season.

Darlington were hopeful he would sign a contract at The Northern Echo Arena, but Luton bettered Quakers’ personal terms for a player who was a free agent having previously been with Ilkeston.

Cooper must choose between Paul Arnison and Greg Taylor at right-back.

Arnison was in line to play on Saturday as Taylor was unavailable, Taylor is also not eligible for Saturday’s trip to Telford in the FA Trophy.