The 35-year-old, a free signing in October, came through a practice match unscathed this week and is stepping up his rehabilitation after a frustrating start to life with the Quakers.

The former Leeds, Middlesbrough and Coventry forward pulled his hamstring on his debut for Darlington in October and then lasted just three minutes in his comeback match against Northampton in January before suffering a recurrence of the same injury.

Whelan has mustered just 81 minutes of first-team action since arriving at the club last autumn.

Source: Team Talk