The Darlington defender Paddy Almond was due to have brain surgery after sustaining a serious head injury in Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat at Southend. Almond, 20, was taken to Southend general hospital and later the Royal London hospital after being forced out of Darlington’s 2-1 defeat. He was scheduled for surgery on Sunday morning to relieve pressure on his brain after a second scan. The centre-half had returned to action in November after sustaining a serious head injury in June in a car accident in Manchester as a rear-seat passenger. Darlington said in a statement: “On his arrival at the Royal London hospital at around midnight Saturday, Paddy had a second brain scan and is due to have an operation to relieve the pressure on his brain some time [on Sunday] morning. “Everybody at Darlington FC and the world of football is keeping him in our thoughts and hoping that he makes a swift recovery. He was able to hold conversations with our physio, Danny O’Connor last night, which hopefully is a good sign. “We would like to thank Danny who did so much to help Paddy on the field, in the changing room and in the two hospitals. We wish him a safe journey back up from London. We understand that Paddy’s parents are on their way to London to be with Paddy.” Darlington also thanked Southend’s medical staff, the NHS ambulance staff and doctors at both Southend general hospital and the Royal London hospital for their help. Almond progressed through Sunderland’s academy and left the club at the end of last season. He joined the National League North side Darlington on a dual-registration basis from the Northern Premier League side Shildon last month.