THREE trialists joined Mark Cooper’s four new signings in Darlington’s first day of pre-season training yesterday.

Cooper is giving trials to four players, three of which were with Quakers yesterday while Ryan Bowman will try to impress today.

The Carlisle United striker, 19, scored in a friendly against Darlington last summer.

Cooper also wants a goalkeeper to provide back-up to Sam Russell following Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton’s departure to Fleetwood Town.

Hoping to plug that gap is former Liverpool goalkeeper Deale Chamberlain who is among Quakers’ trialists.

“We need a goalkeeper as Danzelle chose to go to Fleetwood, I can’t think why,” said Cooper, who saw his former reserve keeper reject a one-year contract offer.

“We need a keeper to push Sam who had an excellent season last year, but we need someone so that Sam knows he has to be on top of his game. We don’t someone here who is just happy to pick up a wage.

“We’ve got a lad in on trial, Deale Chamberlain, who our goalkeeping coach Tony Elliott worked with at Liverpool.

“We’ll have a look at him and I also think we need another forward. I’ve got my eye on one, but it might not happen quickly. We’ve got four or five strikers, but I might want to bring one in that can play wide as well.

“We’ve got a young lad on trial from Carlisle who scored a cracking goal against us last pre-season.”

As well as Bowman and Chamberlain, also on trial are James Gray and Jake Simpson. Gray, son of former Sunderland striker Phil, had a spell on trial at Hartlepool after being released by Middlesbrough last season, while 20-year-old Simpson, a midfielder, has played for Shrewsbury and Stockport and is the son of ex-Carlisle boss Paul.

Being in a position to offer trials to players deemed surplus to requirements elsewhere is a luxury that Cooper is enjoying for the first time as Quakers boss because time and finances were against him when he was appointed shortly before pre-season training commenced last year.

That meant many of the better free agents were no longer available, but this time around, having already signed Graeme Lee, Kris Taylor Adam Rundle and James Walshaw, Cooper is able look at players without being forced into an instant decision.

He said: “Last year we came in so late in the summer that the budget was almost spent up and we ended up rushing into things to get players on board and there wasn’t many available. This season we’ve been able to take our time.

“We’ve certainly lost out on some players, but we’ve gained four really good ones. We’ve been patient and brought in four that want to play for the club, they’re all either local or have moved to the area so I’m pleased with the business that we have done.”

Not on trial but hoping to earn a contract is Michael Brough. The midfielder signed a one-year deal last year, but missed the bulk of the season due to a serious knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly.

However, having worked hard throughout the summer the 29-year-old hopes to return to action before the season starts on August 13.

“Michael is training with the group and took part today,” said Cooper. “He’s got another ten days or two weeks before he can take part in the football side of things, but we’re confident that by the end of pre-season he will be knocking on the door.

“He’s out of contract, but he’s with us and we’d love him to get to a stage where he can play and be a benefit to us. He’s not getting paid, he’s just trying to prove his fitness and as soon as he’s ready he will feature in a friendly.

“He’s a leader, he’s a warrior and he’s a good player so we’re going to give him every opportunity to recover.”

After being based in Durham for four seasons, using three different training venues, Quakers have switched back to Norton & Stockton Ancients.

The Northern League club have spent a considerable amount of money on new facilities while a key factor for Cooper was the condition of the various playing surfaces, which had been an area of concern in Durham.