Dave Challinor confirms premature end to Sheffield United striker David Parkhouse's loan at Hartlepool United

The 21-year-old was on a half-season loan from Premier League side Sheffield United but was limited to just four starts and five substitute appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

Parkhouse hadn’t started a league match for Pools since October but did start last Saturday’s FA Trophy penalty shoot out defeat at Halifax Town.

Now the striker has been allowed to return to Northern Ireland to be with his family over the festive period, bringing his time at Pools to a premature end.

Following the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Halifax, Challinor confirmed: “Parky’s loan is up at the start of January anyway and I spoke to him last week and he’s had some issues off the pitch at home with family not being well.

“We’ve allowed him to go back to Ireland to be at home with his family and spend some time with them. He’ll then go back to Sheffield United in the new year when his loan is up.”

Despite things not working out for Parkhouse at Victoria Park, Challinor has backed the striker to get among the goals.

"Parky is a really good lad and things haven’t turned out how anyone would have wanted,” admitted the Pools boss.

“We thought we really had someone who could be that goal getter for us but with things like international duty and little niggles and that, it just hasn’t transpired. Hopefully he goes back and potentially goes out on another loan, he certainly has the ability to score goals at this level, it just hasn’t worked for him here.”

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