Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper expecting more from his charges
Darlington complete their pre-season preparations tomorrow with manager Mark Cooper likely to field as strong a side as possible.[LNB] With the Blue Square Bet Premier season starting a week tomorrow at home to Braintree Town, Cooper will treat tomorrow's match at Wetherby Road as a dress rehearsal.[LNB] But he cannot name his first-choice XI as injuries are affecting full-backs Paul Arnison and Aaron Brown as well as winger Adam Rundle.[LNB] Arnison (thigh) and Rundle (ankle) will miss the curtain-raiser at The Northern Echo Arena, while Brown only made his comeback from a thigh strain in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Sunderland.[LNB] Cooper reported that Brown is some way from full fitness so tomorrow's game could see Cooper give another run-out to trialist James Poole.[LNB] The former Blyth Spartans left-back, who was with Consett last season, impressed while playing for Newton Aycliffe against a Quakers XI on Tuesday.[LNB] He may be handed another chance tomorrow while trialist keeper Lloyd Saxton remains with the club as Cooper still requires a reserve keeper.[LNB] "The team that plays at Harrogate will probably be the team that starts the season," said Cooper.[LNB] "But we're struggling for full-backs. Aaron Brown is way short of fitness, he can still feel his thigh. We're trying to ease him back into it, but he still feels a bit weak in his thigh.[LNB] "So we gave a game to James Poole who played against us for Aycliffe the other night and did really well.[LNB] "Lloyd Saxton will train with us for the rest of the week and we'll make a decision then what we do."[LNB] Cooper was left deeply disappointed with his side's showing against Sunderland, so will be keen to see a major improvement tomorrow against a side from one division below.[LNB] He added: "We changed the system on Wednesday at half-time to try and get a bit of a spark, but the system means nothing if the players don't want to run about."[LNB] Darlington could face former left-back Paul Heckingbottom who has signed for Harrogate after being released by Gateshead.[LNB] Also at Wetherby Road is midfielder Michael Tait, son of former Quakers boss Mick, who was once in Darlington's youth team.[LNB]
