Harriers visitors tomorrow are Darlington and they were hoping to be fielding their new signing, Faustino Asprilla, but he's only gone and scarpered off to the Middle East after reneging on the deal that the Darlo chairman, George Reynolds, had arranged.

After being turned down by the former Newcastle Utd legend, Paul Gascoine, at the start of the season Reynolds turned his sights on his 'good friend' Tino, another Newcastle legend, to be the big name that he had promised the Darlo fan's.  After weeks of rumour, setbacks and involvement of the Home Office he finally got Tino to agree terms and join up with the 3rd Division minnows.

This was good news for the Harriers too because Tino was expected to make his debut at Aggie and the world's press would be flying in to record the occasion along with an increased contingent from the North East who would all come to worship at the feet of the great god Tino!!

After the bombshell had dropped that Asprilla would not be going to Darlington, George Reynolds was heard to mutter under his breath:
"I wonder if my old friend 'Wor Jackie' is available.

So, what has gone from being an uninspiring, middling Div 3 fixture at the start of the season to a star studded feast of football has now gone back into it's dull little corner.

Back to the real world.  Team news.

We may see the return of Craig Hinton after his nose re-structuring job that he got when we played Rushden two weeks ago.  Also Bo Henriksen should be back after his enforced occupation of the bench on Bank Holiday Monday at Orient.  Even though he wasn't fit because of a stomach injury he was named as a sub because injuries had left the squad somewhat depleted.

Dean Bennett and Abdou Sall are both out through injury.  Bennett is out with ligament damage to his right ankle and Abdou missed last Monday's 0-0 draw because of an ankle injury sustained on the team coach?

Other players in the sickroom this last week include Ian Foster (sore shins), Adie Smith (back), Danny Williams (calf strain), and Scott Stamps (eye) but all are expected to pass fitness tests before tomorrows game.

Drewe Broughton will miss the game following his one match ban after being sent off at Rushden.


Darlington have yet to give any team news out because they are all in a state of shock up there.

Teams

Harriers from:
Brock, Danby, Joy, Stamps, Ayres, Smith, Hinton, Williams, Parrish, Flynn, Shilton, Ducros, Doyle, Foster, Henriksen, Lewis.

Darlington from:
Collet, Porter, Reid, Liddle, Betts, Pearson, McGurk, Atkinson, Campbell, Clarke, Convery, Hodgson, Nicholls, Ford, Maddison, Valentine, Wainwright, Hadland, Keltie, Kilty, Waller, Naylor, Rundle, Mellanby, Conlon, Sheeran.


Some good news for the Harriers this week with the return of Lee Hughes to his spiritual home, The Hawthorns.

He's re-joined the Albion for a sum believed to be in the region of £2,500,001 of which the Harriers might get to see about £200,001 but don't hold your breath!