Former Hartlepool United goalkeeper linked with move to League Two strugglers
Former Hartlepool United goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright has been linked with a move to League Two strugglers Harrogate Town.
According to reports in The Guardian, the 23-year-old is being lined up as a replacement for Harrogate's current first choice goalkeeper James Belshaw, who looks to be close to sealing a move to Notts County.
Cartwright enjoyed a superb spell at Pools earlier on this season, keeping a remarkable seven clean sheets in 13 appearances and impressing with his confidence, composure and command of his area.
Indeed, Cartwright wasted little time in establishing himself as one of the National League's hottest properties and there were plenty of suggestions he could attract interest from higher up the pyramid in January.
Just when Pools were looking like they might have to fend off competition from elsewhere, however, Cartwright suffered a serious injury 37 minutes into October's defeat to Carlisle and was forced to return to parent club Hull.
At the time, there were fears that the young goalkeeper's season could be over. However, Cartwright has been pictured training with Hull's first team this week as the Tigers prepare for their FA Cup clash with fellow Championship side Blackburn on Sunday.
Whether or not Cartwright features in Hull's squad this weekend remains to be seen, although there are growing suggestions he could be set to head out on loan once again to gain more experience of senior men's football.
While the youngster has been tipped for big things, there are concerns about his indifferent injury record. Indeed, an earlier loan spell at Peterborough was cut short through injury, while his time at Pools was brought to a premature end in similar fashion.
Even so, Cartwright has already proven at both League Two Grimsby, where he was named the Mariners' player of the season in the 2023/24 campaign, and Pools that he is more than capable of carving out a hugely successful career in the Football League.
The goalkeeper's next step, then, looks like it could be a spell at Harrogate, who are bottom of the League Two table and currently two points adrift of safety following a nightmarish run of 14 league games without a win, including 11 defeats.
For their part, Pools moved to replace Cartwright with Millwall loanee George Evans, who has been similarly impressive and is now set to remain at Victoria Park until at least next month after his deal was extended.