Hartlepool United forward Joe Grey an injury doubt for the remainder of the 2020-21 season as he awaits scan on back injury

17-year-old forward Joe Grey has missed the last five games for Pools due to an ongoing back issue.

And ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stockport County (3pm kick-off), the youngster is the only expected absentee from Dave Challinor’s squad.

“We’re in good shape, the only issue is young Joe really,” Challinor told The Mail. “We’re just waiting on further investigations on him but aside from that everyone is fine.”

Grey had an MRI scan last week and has now been booked in for a CT scan that will provide a more detailed look at his spine.

“Through experience and a little bit of medical knowledge, with young lads who have had stress fractures or stress reactions in their back, usually a CT scan is the way to go,” Challinor, a trained physiotherapist, added.

“We were told he needed to have an MRI scan first and now he needs a CT scan. It’s routine protocol but it just means he’ll be booked in for that scan and we’ll know for certain where he’s at.”

As a result, Challinor admitted that there are doubts over whether Grey will feature for Pools again this season.

“Everything we have got from Joe this season has been a bonus,” he continued.

“Obviously it’s disappointing for him because he’s been working extremely hard and the stresses that are on his body as a young lad and he’s not 18 until May.

"If he doesn’t play again this season, as much as it will be disappointing for him, if that’s the route to go down then so be it.

“We’d love to have had the option to pick him because his mindset and his work-ethic in a way that he plays with such freedom and that could have been really effective for us in games where players are a little bit tense. He plays like he’s playing in the back garden and that can be a real asset at times.

“Regardless of how the rest of this season goes, hopefully he will have a big impact next season.”

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