Hartlepool United sale: Thomas, Carson, Amond to go in transfer window?

Who will they keep? Who will they release? But just who may Pools?

SportMail looks at five candidates who the club could prise a few quid for in the summer transfer window.

Nathan Thomas

You suspect the talented left-footer would have left Pools five months ago for a whopping fee but for a naughty groin injury at the end of October.

He had scored seven times in a 10-match period and was looking at his irresistible best only for bad luck to strike at Barnet.

Thomas did not return until the end of January, ruining chairman Gary Coxall’s hopes that Pools could cash in on the League Two Messi. It took him a while to regain his fitness and, alas, he could not regain his form or confidence and found playing for boss Dave Jones restrictive.

A few footballing vultures are circulating following the relegation from the Football League with Championship new boys Sheffield United known to be interested.

Pools could have expected to rake in up to a million for him back in January though would have to be content with a lot less now, though the 300 grand figure mentioned with the Blades appears derisory.

Padraig Amond

If Pools could not command a decent fee for the striker then there is something wrong in the world.

The 29-year-old reached double figures again this season, making it 72 goals in the last four campaigns.

Amond hit 14 in his debut campaign at the Northern Gas & Power Stadium, not bad fare considering the troubles of the side.

Just think how many he could have had if the service had been better.

Incredibly unselfish for a marksman, he was not shy of assists, with three in the team’s last two wins, and ran his socks off up front, every match.

Sadly, you can’t imagine Amond, at the stage of his career, staying at the Vic in the National League, but if he does go, perhaps Pools could get some readies for him.

Trevor Carson

No1 in every aspect, squad number, performance, attitude.

When Pools were slashing their wage bill at the turn of the year – Jake Carroll and Toto Nsiala were virtually given away – Carson looked one player who would inevitably be touted by the financially-stricken club.

However, the keeper who 12 months ago walked away with four player of the year trophies at the end of his first campaign at the Vic, saw his season interrupted by injury.

Carson succumbed to a shoulder problem after the win over Morecame at the end of 2016 and was not expected to return this season after surgery.

But such is the calibre of the Northern Ireland keeper, he came back for the games at Cheltenham and at home to Doncaster. Given he left the Robins in 2015 following their relegation to the National League, it is hard to comprehend him staying with Pools.

Brad Walker

If this reporter had mentioned this fella as a sellable asset in the last transfer window you may have demanded I be drugs-tested.

But the 21-year-old could well be a dark horse in the transfer summer transfer market.

Having had a pre-season disagreement with Craig Hignett, the midfielder hardly looked a candidate for a testimonial at he Vic.

But the Billingham lad started Sam Collins’s match in charge of the side, against Stevenage, and scored and has not looked back. His big break came at Luton, where Matthew Bates limped off with a dodgy hamstring.

With Walker the only fella over 6ft he was thrown alongside Scott Harrison.

Barring the odd loss of concentration, Brad has been impeccable at the back and looks as though he has been playing there all his life.

Still only 21, but with 123 Football League appearances under his belt, he could attract a bit of interest.

Nicky Featherstone

As said in these very columns this week, when Pools are on song then so is the former Hull midfielder and vice-versa.

Most effective as the holding man, he is not bad in the opposition territory either. Always ‘there’ for a team-mate, his expertise is possession and keeping the ball in blue – or pink – hands.

Tackling is hardly his strong suit, as he proved whenhe got sent off against Luton, but positional sense and awareness are of the highest order.

Had been tracked by high-fliers Doncaster ahead of the last transfer window, though no concrete offer arrived.

Was Darren Ferguson put off on Saturday? Who knows but there could be interest in the 28-year-old, who has never played outside the Football league amd may not want to start at this point in his career.