Darlington will announce two additions to their squad today ahead of the season starting tomorrow, with a much-needed centre-back among their arrivals.

Former Sunderland defender Brandon Taylor has signed and comes into contention to make his debut in the season opener at home to AFC Telford United.

He was due to play in a friendly against Whitby Town last weekend, but told Quakers boss Alun Armstrong he was unable to make it after suffering a transport problem en route.

He left Sunderland in the summer having been with them since the age of nine.

The 22-year-old made his senior debut in 2019-20, playing in an FA Cup defeat away to Gillingham, after which manager Phil Parkinson said: “We’ve got to take the positives of the good things that we did, and the performances of the youngsters, particularly Brandon, who performed so well.

“I thought he was excellent tonight. That was a tough game, a completely different game to what he’s played in the U23s, with the ball flying in the box and coming forward quickly. I thought that he showed good calmness and did really well.”

Taylor signed a new one-year contract 12 months ago, but was released at the end of last season alongside five other youngsters.

Meanwhile, striker James Beauchamp returns to his hometown club following a trial. He was previously in Darlington’s youth set-up during Martin Gray’s tenure but has most recently been with Darlington Town in the Wearside League.

Two years ago, Beauchamp scored twice for Town in a friendly at Eastbourne Sports Complex against a Darlington XI.