After scoring his second league goal of the season last weekend, striker David Dowson is likely to retain his place in the Darlington attack tomorrow when Martin Gray’s promotion-chasers head to Padiham.

Dowson has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this term, kept out of the starting XI due to a combination of injury and the fruitful striker-partnership of Graeme Armstrong and Amar Purewal.

The pair have scored 29 goals in all competitions between them, but Purewal is now sidelined with a calf injury.

Hard-working Dowson has played the past two matches – he also got the nod for the abandoned New Year’s Day fixture at Kendal Town – and scored in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighouse Town, adding to his goal versus Kendal back in August.

Gray said: “He is so willing and creates chances himself with his endeavour to get into good positions. He grinds teams down and I was delighted with him for scoring.

“He’s always a ten out of ten for effort. Every time we’re in training he makes things happen, he’s a character, he’s great to have around the club and I was pleased for him more than anything that he got a goal because he deserved it.”

Purewal’s calf injury, sustained in the draw with Radcliffe Borough before Christmas, is likely to keep him out of contention until the match with Prescot Cables at Heritage Park a week tomorrow.

“He’s touch and go, maybe he won’t be ready for Saturday, but he’s not far away now,” said Gray.

“It’s taking longer than we expected, but he’s somewhere near and a week on Saturday might be more realistic.”

One player in contention for a recall against the division’s bottom side is Nelson Mota, the French winger having impressed this week in training.

He has made one start and two substitute appearances since joining just over a month ago, and Gray said: “He’s trained well this week in training, very well, and he’s put himself in contention to play this weekend.

“He’s something a little bit different and we’ve just got to keep working with him.”

Darlington are unbeaten in 15 league matches and have won their past five away games, while Padiham have lost 11 successive home and away matches.