Justin Donawa is set to play alongside Bermuda team-mate Osagi Bascome at Darlington FC this season after securing a deal with the English non-League club at the weekend.

The 23-year old winger started trials at the club after returning from international duty with the national team at last month’s Concacaf Gold Cup and has done enough to earn a place in manager Alun Armstrong’s squad.

“We’ve offered Justin a deal because I think he will be useful,” said Armstrong in an article in The Northern Echo.

Darlington are now hoping to be granted international clearance in time to have Donawain their squad for this Saturday’s Vanarama National Legaue North season opener away to Farsley Celtic.

The former Somerset Trojans player all but secured a deal after coming on as a halftime substitute and netting in Darlington’s 4-0 win in a preseason friendly away to Northallerton on July 23.

“Sometimes you need a game-changer that you can bring on and he has raw pace,” Armstrong told nonleaguedaily.com after Donawa’s impressive display.

“He might be the quickest player here, it would be a good race between him and Adam Campbell. Justin is an effortless mover, he just glides.

“He’s got something and he’s worth taking a gamble on and having a look to see if we can develop him.

“He has some attributes and he shows lovely flashes of skill at times. Sometimes he could be more selfish and can get a shot, but so could all of the front four.

“He’s been as good as gold, he’s taking on board everything we tell him and that’s all you can ask. We’ll put some work into him and he could be a find.”

Donawa and Bascome both featured as second half substitutes during Darlington’s 3-0 home win against Middlesbrough Under-23s in their final preseason friendly at the weekend.

Midfielder Bascome signed an initial deal at the club, who play in the Vanarama National League North, the sixth tier of the English pyramid, in March which has since been extended.

“I’m very relaxed but I do want to have a good season under my belt and show my ability, show my worth and what I’m capable of,” Bascome told nonleaguedaily.com. “So I just hope it’s an exciting season, especially for the fans, because they deserve it.”

The 21-year old, who scored a “wonder goal” in Darlington’s 2-2 draw away to Darlington Town in a preseason friendly on July 9, says he has “adapted well” to the cut and thrust of the English game.

“I think the adaptation mostly was just getting used to the style of play, because I was used to playing a certain way but I kind of had to adapt,” he added.

“I just think the tempo really, not just the physicality part. The tempo is much quicker, you have less time on the ball, people are getting stuck in a lot, using their body better. The players have fully grown into their body so you have to be quick on the ball.

“I think I’m adapting well, getting my body ready for the league, for the upcoming season, so that was the main adaptation.”