Former Middlesbrough defender David Wheater could make a comeback with Darlington.

The Teessider, who turns 35 next month, is a free agent and on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery on a back problem two months ago.

Quakers physio Danny O’Connor is working with Wheater during his rehabilitation and manager Alun Armstrong says playing for Darlington in the National League North could suit the experienced defender.

“He’s training with us, he’s doing his rehab with Danny and hopefully we can get him up to speed and take it from there,” said the manager.

“Everyone knows what the lad is capable of, let’s just get him through this stage and then see.

“He had the op because he wanted to play for another year or two, and I told him this level, playing part-time and living at home, might suit him at this stage of his career.”

Redcar-born Wheater played in the Premier League and Championship for Middlesbrough and Bolton but last started a competitive game for Oldham Athletic in March 2020 in League Two.

He made 35 appearances during 2019-20, but a dispute with the club’s hierarchy led to Wheater being told to train with the youth team and was left out of the senior squad for ’20-21.

During his formative years he was on loan to Darlington from Boro in the second half of the 2006-07 season, making 16 appearances with his debut coming in the same starting XI as Armstrong.

Fifteen years later and a reunion is on the cards.

Armstrong added: “I’ve known Dave for a long time and I nearly signed him in the summer, but he said he didn’t want to come in and then be injured. So that’s credit to him, he wanted to get the op done first and then have a chat.

“Danny has been doing work with him and we’ll see where it takes us.

“He had the op November time, he’s only a couple of months post-op, it was a bulging disc in his back, so the timescale it usually three months before you can play competitively.

“He’s kept himself in decent shape and if he can get back playing that would be great.”

On Saturday Darlington, in 11th, are away to bottom-of-the-table Telford.