Former Darlington defender Joe Tait is on the verge of rejoining the club having been told he is surplus to requirements at Gateshead.

The 23-year-old has been training with Quakers, and a Gateshead spokesman said last night that Tait is "set to rejoin the club he left for Gateshead in the summer".

Tait has made only seven appearances for The Heed since moving to the club from Quakers last summer, his three starts coming in the first three games of the season.

Manager Gary Mills, who replaced Anth Smith, the boss who signed Tait, has given the centre-back four substitute appearances, while he also started Wednesday evening's Durham Challenge Cup tie against Darlington.

But Mills is reshaping the Heed squad and has allowed Tait to train with Quakers, who play at Harrogate Railway Athletic tomorrow.

Leon Scott begins a three-match ban while Alan White is one booking away from a two-game suspension.

Tait's return would make him the second player of Darlington's defence from last season to rejoin following Stephen Harrison's transfer from Durham City last month.