From today's Daily Record:

DARREN GETS OFF HIS MARK AT INVERNESS

INVERNESS manager Charlie Christie is poised to sign 20-year-old speed merchant Darren Campbell.

Former Reading player Campbell is on a two-week trial in the Highland capital.

And after turning out for the under-19s against Huntly, the winger earned rave reviews.

Christie, who will take a look at Campbell in tomorrow's friendly against Clach, said: "I got a glowing report about Darren from Danny MacDonald after the win at Huntly.

"He's a small but extremely quick wide-midfield type and could add a different dimension to the squad.

"He's here for a couple of weeks and I'm keen to see him in action for the first time in Bruce McCraw's testimonial on Sunday."

Just read about a bit on this guy he was on loan for a couple of games to Tamworth in the Conference last season.  He has also played for Scotland Under 17s and can play on either wing.

a bit of compition for the midfeild placeshould make it interesting

We've got the creative midfielder now and the young pacey winger...... now we just need a tall forward??

Glad to see some activity in the transfer market should make for an exciting season :clapping04:

Left or Right winger??

can play on either wing.

Bonus  :003:

I guess that the signing of Campbell confirms that we are giving up on Hoolahan :024:

I guess that the signing of Campbell confirms that we are giving up on Hoolahan :024:

The signing of Rankin should have confirmed that  :004:

http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34951

Darren Campbell 

Height 5.07 

Weight 10.08 

Date of birth 16-04-1986 

Place of birth 

Position Midfielder 

Nationality Scotland 

Currently playing for Reading 

Signed on  30-04-2003 

Fee Trainee 

Squad number 

All time playing career

Club From To Fee League FA Cup League cup Other

Tamworth 09-09-2005 09-10-2005 Loan  2 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0

Reading 30-04-2003  Trainee  0 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0

Totals £ 0 2 (2) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0

goals / game 0 n/a n/a  n/a

Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

No games played by Darren Campbell in 2006/2007

We haven't actually signed him yet have we?

I am reliably informed that his signing is almost a definite. A half decent showing aginst the Winos and the deal is done.

Here is a very interesting clip from last seasons Southend Utd website

Campbell In Marathon, Not Sprint 

By Robert Craven Thursday 18th August 2005

READING WINGER Darren Campbell may share his name with a 20-second 200 metre British runner, but his return from cruciate ligament damage has taken time…

Campbell made an impressive return to match action

Diminutive wide man Campbell, who hails from Scotland, certainly has the pedigree to make an impression in the game, as trials at world famous outfits Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic indicate. The 19-year-old has had to put his entire career on the back-burner over the past twelve months, though, after suffering a debilitating knee injury.

Just a week after netting in the first Under-18s clash of the campaign at Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2004, Campbell, who is Scottish by birth but who has also represented England as a youth international, was innocuously fouled in the Biscuitmen’s first home fixture of the season and suffered serious cruciate ligament damage.

The youngster, then 18, had set up a goal in the 1-1 draw with the Black Cats when his foot was stuck in the turf, Reading official website, www.readingfc.co.uk, reported. Speaking to that site, youth team boss Brendan Rodgers revealed, “There was no blame on their player – it was one of those where it is more serious than we first thought. He was in pain when it happened but it was more serious afterwards.”

Having returned to light training in April, right at the end of the campaign, the five-foot seven-inch wide man had managed just forty minutes before his appearance for Blues’ Twos yesterday afternoon. That was long enough for Steve Tilson to be impressed by his influence on proceedings, and Campbell had two decent shots on goal before setting up Max Porter for another good chance during a fine first half display.

Speaking to TLG, Tilson said, “I thought he did well considering it was his first full match for a year. We will speak to Reading again this week with a view to him coming down and training with us next week, and we will take things from there.” Reading’s official site goes one step further, speculating that the teenager, who has a one-year contract at the Madejski Stadium, could link up with the Shrimpers on a season-long loan deal.

Campbell has been with the Royals since the age of 11, signing a two-year professional contract in the aftermath of his debut, made in a 3-0 win over Watford at the end of the 2002/3 campaign. He finally chose to play for the country of his birth in November 2002, when Scotland’s Under-17 side came calling.

A month earlier, he spent a week at Carrington training with Manchester United as the Berkshire side tried to forge closer links with the Red Devils. Following his failure to build on his debut, he also linked up with Celtic in April 2004. He struggled with his physical fitness, much like players such as Michael Kightly and James Lawson have done at Roots Hall, and the spell on work experience with the Glasgow Giants for a month helped him to concentrate on recapturing his form.

Campbell has impressed many during his time with Reading. Youth coach Brendan Rodgers gushes praise on the youngster, whilst both Alan Pardew and Steve Coppell were willing to aid his progression into the first team, which has stumbled in recent times. Even the fans were heard calling his name in the clash against Watford in which he made his debut as a substitute.

Having caught the eye with a man-of-the-match display against Oxford United’s second string this August, Campbell could now be in line to link up with Mitchell Cole for Southend and make the League One club a side to be genuinely fearing out wide. Most clubs in the division have built their teams on width, and United should be no exception. This could be an exciting time for Campbell and the Shrimpers.

[img width=223 height=450]http://pictures.footymad.net/upload/480/235398-1.JPG

read about him in p+j but concerned about other comments cc made in the story  "iam conscious thats the squad is bigger than i originally intended but darren has a chance to win a future here" so does that mean if we want another striker we have to get rid of someone 1st??hope not as we badly need another striker

I think CC is looking fer midfield cover in case Black and proctor leave.

considering campbell doesnt play in same position as neither black nor proctor,its suprise suprise more of ur BULLPOO :006:

Proctor has coverd as a right midfielder before.

yes but mainly covers for rossco

True but if Proctor was to go to Yinited then Parratt would cover for Tokely and this new lad would, I guess, cover for Wilson.

all if,s parratt isnt ready for spl yet,and utd have 2 defs on trial just now on tour

Yup two right backs who have been brought in to replace Wilson. Think they had 45 minutes each in one of Yiniteds more recent friendlies. Think one was Lyndsay ( :015:) Wilson.

Marty, we already have six or seven strikers. What we need is players who can attack and defend from the midfield and who can hold up the ball and feed it to the strikers.

As for squad size, yes its bigger that CC envisaged but I can see one or two of the younger lads going out on loan for a spell to gain some experience. Possibly Highland league.

6 or 7 strikers? when did we sign 3 more? last i heard we had dargo,wyness,bayne+macallister and bayne+rory certainly aint spl standard

I reckon we have 11 midfield players already in the first team squad. Bit overweight don't you think?

We're definitely not going to be short on midfielders next season, but it looks like he might offer something we don't already have. Seems like he has pace and wants to take defenders on - might get a few bums up off seats and give us something to get excited about. 

Marty, Barry's a striker though he's been playing a midfield role the last two seasons. Also isn't Zander also a front man.

natn, we need all those extra midfielders to cover for CC's new attacking 3-5-2 formation. :003:

BBC

Inverness CT summer signings 

In: John Rankin, midfielder (Ross County, £65,000); Dennis Wyness, striker (Hearts)

Out: Carricondo Juanjo, midfielder; Ben Jackson, striker; Darren Jarvie, striker; Martin Rutherford, midfielder; Chris Ross, midfielder; Chris Sutherland, midfielder; Jamie Tulloch, midfielder; Chris Finnegan, midfielder

Just in case anyone's lost track  :003:

considering campbell doesnt play in same position as neither black nor proctor,its suprise suprise more of ur BULLPOO :006:

But you have to concede that I have been spot on so far.  :016: :016: Campbell is coming to provide wide cover. Proctor is still a favourite to move on and ya may be called rankinforce soon too.  :015: :015: :015: