‘Good news’ for Hartlepool United on the injury front with trio back in contention following Halifax Town postponement

Mark Shelton, David Ferguson and Lewis Cass missed Pools' 1-0 win at Notts County last week due to injuries picked up over the festive period.

Cass pulled his hamstring in the FA Trophy match at Halifax Town while Shelton broke his hand and Ferguson bruised his shin in the Boxing Day win over The Shaymen in the National League.

And Saturday’s postponed match at Halifax has given the trio more time to recover with manager Dave Challinor giving a positive outlook ahead of Hartlepool’s next match.

"Absolutely they should be okay,” he told The Mail. “Fergie wouldn’t have played at Halifax just because of the swelling he’s got to be honest around his calf. The whack he’s taken to his shin on the front has obviously ballooned around the back.

“We’re doing the best we can to get rid of that but it’s just really a time issue and he should be fine by Saturday."

Cass returns to full training on Monday while Shelton will be able to train and play fully despite his fracture.

“Shelts has been seeing a specialist and there’s good news for him," Challinor added.

“He’s got a fracture but it doesn’t need a cast or splint, he can strap it up and continue to play and train safe in the knowledge that if he did have an impact on it then it wouldn’t do any more damage. He comes straight back into contention and would have been in contention to play at Halifax at the weekend.”

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