Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor explains the data behind Rhys Oates' expected FA Cup absence at Ilkeston Town
Hartlepool United forward Rhys Oates is set to be rested for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Ilkeston Town (3pm kick-off).
The 25-year-old has been nursing a slight hamstring strain this week and will miss out on the match as a precaution.
Pools boss Dave Challinor admitted Oates would have probably been involved had it been a league game as he uses Saturday’s cup match to rotate his squad slightly.
And it has also been revealed that Oates’ injury would not have been picked up had it not been for some training data analysis.
“Rhys has got a slight hamstring problem but it’s not anything really, it was just something that was flagged up in our GPS data,” Challinor told The Mail.
"Over the course of the week, we get all of the players to reach at least 90% of their top speeds. The data was showing Rhys was at about 86, 87% which isn’t like him.
"Because of that, we asked him if he was feeling anything and he said he’s got a bit of tightness in his hamstring so we've just pulled him out as a precaution.
"He hasn’t trained fully since Tuesday but he’ll be fine after the weekend. We believe it’s the right thing to do because we’ve got a small squad and we’ve got to look after our players.”
Despite Oates’ absence, Pools will be looking to reach the first round of the FA Cup with victory in Derbyshire this weekend.
Ilkeston currently play in the eighth tier of English football and are one of the lowest-ranked sides left in the competition, but Challinor remains wary of the threat they could pose.
“We’re going in as favourites with a banana skin to overcome,” he commented.
“Ilkeston have picked up a couple of injuries and have some players missing but we’ve got to focus on ourselves. For a team at their level, they’re well fancied and they’ll have a go so we know it’s going to be tough but I’m sure they will be thinking the same.
“It’s a big game for them, they’ve started the season well before having a disappointing result on Tuesday. It’s a big opportunity, it’s on TV so we’re looking forward to it and hoping to show everyone what we’re about.”