Dave Penney is hoping to maintain Darlo's unbeaten start to the season

Darlington manager Dave Penney has warned fans not to expect striker Pawel Abbott back in the side until he is fully recovered from his foot injury.

Abbott broke down on his return to the side from injury in the penultimate game of last season and Penney is keen to avoid a similar fate this term.

"He's nowhere near fitter," Penney told BBC Tees. "He had a scan on Monday and his Achilles is still a bit sore.

"We'll take our time with him and try to get him fit."

With on-loan Ipswich Town striker Billy Clarke helping to swell the ranks and the return of Gregg Blundell to full fitness, Penney is confident that he has the personnel required to cope with the demands of League Two football.

"We haven't got the quantity," he said. "Hopefully we've got more quality. But we haven't got the numbers in depth we had last year.

"Any team that is going to be successful needs to steer clear from suspensions and injuries and we didn't last season and that's why we struggled towards the end.

"We've lost a couple of players like David Stockdale and Tommy Wright. If bids come in like that then we have to look at them.

"But hopefully we can keep these together and add a couple more."