Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor discusses Luke Williams' 'minor set-back' after former Middlesbrough midfielder misses four National League matches

The midfielder was pushing to become a regular in Pools’ matchday squad after being named on the bench for five consecutive National League matches around the turn of the year.

In that time, Williams played the final 23-minutes of a 3-1 victory at home to Wealdstone and half an hour in the 1-0 defeat at Weymouth back in January – but hasn’t featured on the pitch since.

He also started and scored in the FA Trophy defeat at Halifax Town back in December and made some big strides to putting his well documented injury troubles behind him.

But with the 27-year-old now missing out of the matchday squad for Hartlepool’s last four National League matches, manager Dave Challinor has provided a slight update on Williams’ status.

“Luke was close a month ago, but he’s suffered a minor set-back” the Pools boss told The Mail. “I don’t mean for this to sound the wrong way, but with any other player they’ll probably just crack on and play through it.

"From our position, it’s more difficult with Luke because of the concerns about where he’s been and making sure he’s absolutely right.

"With the games we’ve got and the timings we have around training, we’ve not been able to stick him into a full session to test him consistently.

"I suppose with him not travelling [to Torquay], he can potentially get himself back in training and we’re not having to risk him.”

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