Darren Huckerby is keeping fit for San Jose Earthquakes by returning to England for the MLS offseason. Former Newcastle and Norwich striker Huckerby has followed David Beckham by returning to Europe for the American close season - but with Lowestoft Town as opposed to AC Milan.

Huckerby will train with the Town players in what has been hailed as a real coup for their boss Micky Chapman.

Chapman told Lowestoft's The Journal: ''It's great to have a player of that quality and profile training with us. It just shows how far we have come and the progress and profile of our club."

Huckerby begun his off-season training with Lowestoft this week after talks with first team coach Craig Fleming.

And Fleming says Huckerby's arrival at Crown Meadow will be of great benefit to his former Norwich team-mate as he bids to maintain his fitness for the MLS.

"They're a good bunch of lads who work hard and Hucks will benefit from a run-out with them," said Fleming. "Dave will start off with some warm-up stuff and then I'll get stuck into them - it'll be nice to come up against Hucks again."