Hartlepool United bring Nicky Deverdics back from Dover Athletic loan spell

Pools boss Dave Jones has recalled the midfielder from his loan spell at Dover Athletic and he’ll be in the party heading to Notts County for Saturday’s six-pointer.

Deverdics trained today with the Pools squad at the Racecourse Ground in Durham and he has returned having got five National League games under his belt.

The 29-year-old played five times for the club he left to join Pools last summer, winning two, drawing two and losing one.

Deverdics had not featured under Jones – his last appearance being the 3-2 win over Morecambe at the end of last year – and the boss wanted him to play games and vowed to have him watched.

Both boxes have been ticked and Jones told SportMail that he is delighted to have the talented left-footer back in town.

“I’ve called Nicky back, we are short of senior players, losing Kav and everything else.

“It’s been good for Nicky, he had to go out and play games and he’s done well.

“Dover wanted to keep him bit I’ve had to drag him back.

“That tells you he’s back in the squad, I wouldn’t pull him back if he wasn’t.”

The return of Deverdics coincides with the exit of Sean Kavanagh.

The defender, who is on loan at the Vic until the end of the season, has gone back to Fulham for treatment after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

Kavanagh limped off just before the half-hour mark of last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Exeter City, with youngster Kenton Richardson coming off the bench and back into the fray.

The teenager will be part of an unchanged back four alongside in-form central defenders Scott Harrison and Brad Walker and the versatile Liam Donnelly.

Jones says Pools will await a report from the Championship club on the Irishman.

“It’s Kav’s hamstring, same problem, but it’s more fatigue than anything,” said the boss.

“He’s gone back to Fulham, who will look after him, assess him and wait for the reports from them.”

Talking of being back, captain Billy Paynter is back at Pools following a series if injections to a troublesome Achilles issue.

Pools and Paynter had anticipated the striker needing an op but are hoping this course of action will get him back before the end of the season.

Jones says he will wait on news from physio Ian Gallagher on when he may be in a position to train again.

“Billy’s had his injections he’s just waiting for them to kick in,” he said.

“He’s had a course of three injections, now he’s back with Buster [Gallagher].

“I stay out of the medical room, I’ll be governed by what Buster says.”