ACCRINGTON Stanley are close to signing a striker and a midfielder ahead of Saturday’s home game against Darlington.

Stanley have still received no news from Blackburn Rovers about whether Jamie Clarke and Rostyn Griffiths will be able to return to the Fraser Eagle Stadium so have instead entered into negotiations about two other players.

John Mullin may face an operation after having a scan on a long-standing ankle injury, which forced him to withdraw from the weekend game at Rochdale following the warm-up.

But Kenny Arthur should return in goal on Saturday following the kidney problem that has ruled him out since before Christmas.