There will be two additions to the Darlington squad today, one of which is new to supporters and another that will be familiar but not easy to recognise.

Winger Nelson Mota will be involved, over a week after signing from Ramsbottom United, while Jordan Robinson will be Quakers’ man in the mask at New Mills.

The versatile 23-year-old, able to play in defence and midfield, returns after missing eight matches after sustaining a fractured cheekbone in October away to Prescot Cables.

He underwent surgery to correct fractures around his eye, jaw and cheekbone and is now available to manager Martin Gray, though must wear a protective mask during training and matches. His return is timely as Chris Hunter, Gary Brown and Liam Hatch are suspended.

Last Saturday’s game at home to Lancaster City being postponed delayed the start of their bans, meaning Brown and Hatch will also miss the matches at Bamber Bridge next week and at home to lowly Radcliffe Borough in a fortnight.

With Robinson returning and Josh Nearney on loan from Hartlepool United, Gray, however, has opted against adding any further defensive cover.

He said: “I’d like to think we’ve got enough in the squad to get us through this weekend, and then after that Chris Hunter is back because it’s only a one-game ban for him.

“I don’t want to be bringing in too many players and changing things too much.

“Without being disrespectful, it’s a game that we are expected to take the points from and it’ll be the same against Radcliffe. But it’s about what we do and we have to stay focused.

“We’ve slipped up before, so we’ve got to be focused on doing things right. It’ll be a big game for New Mills, playing against us, we know they’ll raise their game.”

Second-bottom New Mills are winless in 11 league games, losing eight in that time. The Derbyshire club were beating Bamber Bridge 1-0 a week ago until contriving to concede two goals in injury time.

On the same day, Salford City took advantage of Quakers being out of action by taking three points to go joint top of the table with Darlington, but the roles are reversed today.

The Manchester club’s match at Ossett Town has been postponed due to maintenance work on the hosts’ pitch, giving Darlington an opportunity to reclaim outright ownership of first position.

Gray is in no doubt about the fitness of level of his players, who had two midweek training sessions while they also trained in the absence of a game last Saturday.

Gray said: “It was frustrating when you’ve prepared all week for a game and planned what the team is going to be, and then have the game called off.

“But there had been a bit of rain and we know that the pitch doesn’t cope well with the wet weather.

“We trained instead. We had a session at Longfield Academy, and after that the youth team had a match so we watched them.

“We did quite a lot of physical work to keep the lads fit, but they’re all fit lads anyway, they all take pride in their condition. That’s something that’s very noticeable, they take their fitness very seriously with their approach to nutrition and going to the gym when we’re not training.

“I demand it, I demand that they keep themselves in good shape, but they do it anyway. We’ve got a good bunch here, they’re all really dedicated and set their standards exceptionally high.”