Experience key for Dave Challinor as Nicky Featherstone and Gary Liddle approach big appearance milestones for Hartlepool United

Both players have been virtually ever-present in recent months as Pools have made a charge for the National League play-off places.

And given that 10 Pools players involved in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Solihull Moors were under the age of 25, manager Dave Challinor has stressed the importance of some of the squad’s more experienced professionals.

Captain Ryan Donaldson made his 100th start for the club at Damson Park. Featherstone will make his 250th appearance for Pools against Ebbsfleet United this weekend while teammate Liddle is just a few matches away from hitting the 300 mark over two spells.

“Experience is massive and if you can get experience that fits into how you want to play then it’s a double win if you like,” Challinor said.

“Lidds was at the club for a while, went away and came back while Feaths has been here for an extended period and those two have been mainstays since we’ve come in.

“They know what it’s like to play here in the Football League. Everyone wants to get the club back to where it should be but we have no divine right to be there.

“With the amount of young players we’ve got around them in the squad, they become massively important to us.

“Along with that, they’re very good footballers and fit into the way I want us to play. Hopefully that will continue to be the case moving forward.”