Dave Challinor hopeful Hartlepool United will be able to sign key midfielder on permanent deal this summer

The Salford City midfielder initially joined on a short-term deal for a month but impressed so much that Pools were keen to tie him down until the end of the current campaign at least.

Salford were open to Shelton extending his loan spell and that was agreed, with Challinor still hopeful that a permanent deal could be struck in the summer when his contract expires.

Challinor sees Shelton as an ideal ‘box-to-box’ midfielder able to contribute at both ends of the pitch while ensuring he gets on the ball and contributes with goals too.

The 23-year-old has scored three goals in 10 appearances for Pools since arriving in mid-December.

On Shelton, Challinor said: “Shelts has done really well and has had a bad injury at Salford which had set him back a little bit.

“He then came back from injury and they’ve obviously got really high expectations of where they want to go.

“He’s someone hopefully we can keep here longer, there has been positive talks with Salford on that.

“I think once he’s properly fit then he’s the type of midfielder in terms of his ability to go box-to-box, get on the ball and score goals, he can definitely do that and I think he can be an important player for us and one I’d like to have here longer term.”

Shelton has played a direct role in each of the last five goals scored at Victoria Park.

Shelton, who is contracted to Salford until the end of June, has also admitted he ‘would love to stay’ at Pools beyond the current season so there is confidence on both sides that his initial short-term stay will turn into a much longer one, with Challinor already looking ahead to his summer business and reshaping the squad.

On the pitch, Pools are four points adrift of the top seven and a play-off spot.

Their weekend trip to Solihull Moors was postponed due to Storm Dennis, with Notts County the visitors to The Vic on Saturday afternoon.