Darlington forward Martin Smith will miss the start of next season after undergoing a knee operation.
Smith underwent the operation last month but does not expect to resume training till July.
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"I wanted to wait until the end of the season to get the operation done," Smith told the Northern Echo.
"If I'm being realistic then I'm probably looking at being spot-on in September. I can't start running again until July.
"That is when I will be able to build my fitness up. I will not be able to do pre-season like the rest of the lads and it will be a case of playing catch-up.
"But if I do everything in the right way then hopefully that will speed up my recovery. I've had a couple of years where I've been in this situation but you just have to be patient, work hard and be positive."
