Hartlepool United interim manager Nicky Featherstone admits injury sustained by skipper Tom Parkes is "quite concerning"
Hartlepool United interim boss Nicky Featherstone admits an injury sustained by skipper Tom Parkes in the second half of Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 win over play-off chasing Halifax Town is "quite concerning".
The 33-year-old, who was made club captain over the summer by former manager Simon Grayson, has endured a challenging season with injuries so far and has only featured in 11 of his side's 20 matches this term.
Indeed, the veteran defender had only recently returned to action following a spell sidelined through concussion and was making his first start since October 4 in West Yorkshire at the weekend.
The battle-hardened centre-half had been enjoying an excellent game in the heart of the Pools defence and was getting the better of Halifax frontman Owen Devonport as his side extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
However, there was concern in the Pools dugout 10 minutes into the second half when Parkes went down holding his back, with substitute Besart Topallaj stripped off and ready to replace him.
Yet the skipper, who first signed for Pools in January 2024 and has gone on to make 72 appearances, dusted himself down and, initially at least, was able to carry on as his side edged towards a second clean sheet in three games.
With 25 minutes of normal time remaining, however, Parkes went down again, this time after heading a hopeful Halifax long ball clear in his trademark dominant fashion.
While Pools, who moved to within three points of the National League play-off places thanks to the resurgent Adam Campbell's second goal in two games, will of course be hoping to have Parkes available for this weekend's visit of in-form Wealdstone, the fact that the experienced defender once again had an issue after heading the ball represents an understandable concern for Featherstone and his staff.
"It's quite concerning to be fair," the interim Pools boss told the official club website.
"Not so much from the initial injury, he said it was more his back, but then he's headed a ball clear and I've just seen a little bit of unease in him.
"I don't know, I just felt that for the sake of Parkesy it was the right decision to get him off."