BACUP Borough's Darren Esdale -- 'the non-League answer to Rio Ferdinand' -- has suspected tendonitis.

The 24-year-old former Bury and Doncaster player was out for the last four months of the 2000-01 season with problems with his Achilles.

Manager Brent Peters said: "He has been to see a orthopaedic specialist who thinks it may be tendonitis.

"He will have a scan shortly and if needed, an operation. We want him fit for the start of the season."