The 20-year-old looks set to join the League Two club for an initial month after losing his place at Elland Road to Alan Sheehan.

Parker made five successive starts for United in the lead-up to Gary McAllister's appointment as manager on January 29, but Sheehan was signed on loan from Leicester City by McAllister on the final day of the January transfer window and has retained the left-back slot in the four matches since.

McAllister named Parker in the line-up for yesterday's reserve game against Scunthorpe United at Elland Road, but the defender was withdrawn from the team at late notice and was seen leaving the stadium shortly before the scheduled 2pm kick-off.

Leeds were expected to finalise his switch to Darlington this morning, subject to Parker accepting the move, and the transfer would see him join a club who are competing for automatic promotion from League Two under Dave Penney.

Parker has completed one previous loan spell away from Elland Road, joining Bradford City's squad for the whole of the 2006-07 season.

He made 41 appearance for the Valley Parade club and had planned to reach 20 outings for Leeds this term, but he is five short of that tally having dropped out of United's starting side after their 1-0 defeat at Southend United last month.

Speaking earlier in the season, Parker said: "A good season for me would be to break into the first team and play 20 or maybe 25 games. That's what I'm looking to do.

"This is a massive season for me. I've had a few look-ins here and there, but when I get my opportunity I'm going to look to cement my place."

McAllister is likely to see the opportunity in Darlington as a chance for Parker to gain additional experience, and the full-back has not been included in any of the four match-day squads named by United's manager so far.

Parker is widely considered to be one of the club's most promising youngsters and he was handed an extended two-year contract in October, one of four academy products to agree new deals on the same day.