Darlington will be without Jordan Robinson for up to two months due to the serious facial injuries suffered last weekend.

He visited a specialist this week who told the midfielder that he requires an operation, taking place today, to repair three cheekbone fractures sustained in the 2-0 win at Precot Cables.

He needs two metal plate inserting and a spell on the sidelines lasting six to eight weeks depending on how quickly the injuries heal.

News of Robinson’s lay-off comes as a time when the Darlington squad is beginning to appear stretched, with youth team players regularly being called on for bench duty.

Gray hopes Graeme Armstrong will be available for tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie at Radcliffe Borough, while David Dowson is pencilled into return at home to Burscough on October 25.

Armstrong had to be replaced early in Wednesday’s win over Ossett Albion after a clash of heads with centre-back Lewis Trice.

Both required lengthy treatment, though Trice was able to continue Armstrong was replaced. Gray said: “We brought him off more as a precaution because we’ve got a big game at the weekend and a free midweek next week, so it was for the best to bring him off.”

Dowson has been hampered by a hamstring problem that seen him miss the past nine matches, and Gray said: “I would hope he’ll be back a week on Saturday. We had him assessed and he’s got a chance of being back next week.”

With Quakers top of the table, they take a break from league action for the next two fixtures, though the manager views the importance of the Trophy and Tuesday’s trip to Spennymoor Town in the Durham Challenge Cup very differently.

“It’ll be a full-strength team on Saturday and then the game against Spennymoor next week will be an under-18s match, no first team players,” said Gray. “We want to try and progress in the Trophy. We were disappointed last year when we went out after a replay, even though we did well against Buxton.

“We drew with Radcliffe about a month ago, a game that I missed, so it’s a tough one, but we have to make sure we win because I want to have a run.

“We have fantastic support and it’s important for them that we don’t just turn up, we’ve got to go down there and win.

“We’re judged on the league. Our job is to push for promotion, so the Spennymoor game means nothing to the football club. It’s a hindrance. So we’ll let the youth team enjoy the experience of playing against Spennymoor.”

* The Darlington Fundraising Group have organised an acoustic night with Trevor Sewell at the Travellers Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, on Saturday October 25.

Tickets are £5 and are available from the Travellers Rest, the Quaker Retail club shop at Blackwell Meadows or from Rob Duncan on 0798-5020578.

All money raised will go towards the Back To Darlo campaign.