Source: Northern_Echo
Injured Miller unable to return for Darlington
Darlington have one new face in the ranks for tomorrow's game at Bath City but they remain without captain Ian Miller due to injury.[LNB] Striker Leon King signed on Tuesday and he travels with the squad that sets off today and trains at the University of Gloucestershire en route.[LNB] But Miller's recovery from a knee injury is taking longer than anticipated so Kevin Austin and Danny Hone will continue their partnership at centre-back.[LNB] Miller has missed four matches and manager Mark Cooper hopes the 26-year-old will return next week.[LNB] We're not really any further forward with Dusty, said Cooper, who is unlikely to make changes to the line-up tomorrow.[LNB] It's a concern because he's an influential player, he's the captain and we need him back as quick as possible.[LNB] We thought he'd be back with us this week but that's not happened so we'll have to leave it to the physio and hopefully we can get him back next week.[LNB] But the two boys that have been in there, Austin and Hone, have done very well and I'm confident enough in that pairing.[LNB] Miller is currently unable take a full part in training, but reserve keeper Kelvin Jack is available again after recovering from a back problem.[LNB] The Trinidadian played in Tuesday's friendly at Spennymoor Town, that ended 1-1, a game that saw Knight feature for an hour.[LNB] Although not yet fully fit, Cooper says the former Brighton man has impressed during training.[LNB] Cooper said: In a couple of weeks he'll be fine. He's carrying a bit of weight, we know that, but if we stick him on for 20 minutes or half an hour we know he's got a chance of nicking you a goal.[LNB] He's been really sharp in training. He's got good ability and you can see he's played at a higher level than the Conference so I'm looking forward to working with him.[LNB] Meanwhile, Darlington have appointed former Middlesbrough defender Gary Pallister as operations director.[LNB] Pallister's appointment, which is strictly a commercial one, is aimed to increase the club's profile and to help attract new sponsors and potential investors.[LNB] Quakers chairman Raj Singh revealed the appointment in the first of a threepart feature interview with Quakers Player, the club's online TV.[LNB] Singh said: Gary's often said that he's driven past the Arena so many times and thought if someone could get hold of that club, it could go places', which had been my view for a number years before I took over a year ago.[LNB] Gary's stature in the game is well-known. If we're talking to local business people, trying to get them to come on board and take out sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us, then having Gary selling the club to them, will certainly add clout in terms of credibility and profile.[LNB] Pallister had a loan spell with Darlington in 1985.[LNB]
