Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits in-form Tyrese Sinclair reminds him of former Pools loan sensation Reyes Cleary
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has compared winger Tyrese Sinclair to former Pools loan star Reyes Cleary.
The 25-year-old scored a genuine goal of the season contender during his side's emphatic 3-1 win over promotion-chasing Carlisle United on Wednesday, picking the ball up on the halfway line and gliding past two defenders before beating goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze from a tight angle.
Indeed, Sinclair has made a strong start to his Pools career having signed on loan from title-chasing York City last month, scoring three times in his first four games. Having found the net twice during Saturday's remarkable comeback win over Solihull Moors, one of his former sides, Sinclair produced a blistering performance as Pools dismantled the Cumbrians in midweek, earning himself the man-of-the-match award for the second game in succession.
As well as his goals, Sinclair, who is the son of former Chelsea, Leicester City and Burnley star Frank, has impressed Pools fans with his skill, creativity and hard work out of possession.
It perhaps shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Sinclair is making such an impact at Victoria Park given his impressive National League pedigree. Having come through the ranks at Mansfield, Sinclair signed permanently for Rochdale in the summer of 2022 and went on to score 14 goals in 71 games at Spotland, 11 of which came in his second season.
After being allowed to leave by Dale at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Sinclair was snapped up by York and was a regular in the side that finished second in the National League last season after amassing 96 points, scoring nine times in 48 matches.
After Stuart Maynard replaced Adam Hinshelwood in the dugout at the start of this term, however, Sinclair appeared to fall out of favour at the York Community Stadium and joined Solihull on loan in October, scoring three goals in 10 games at Damson Park.
Since signing for Pools, Sinclair has proved he has the potential to become one of the National League's most exciting and creative attacking players, while also adapting seamlessly to his role without the ball in Featherstone's set-up. Already, fans are hoping Pools will pursue a permanent deal for the winger in the summer, even if Featherstone admitted on Wednesday that it could prove complicated.
Given Sinclair's role in the side and immediate impact, it feels inevitable that comparisons are being drawn to Reyes Cleary, who scored six goals and provided seven assists in 20 matches during a blistering loan spell at Victoria Park in the second half of last season.
Although Cleary tended to operate from a slightly deeper wing-back role, his effectiveness at coming in on his favoured right foot from the left flank, his determination to drive at defenders as well as his hard work out of possession means it's no huge surprise that the 21-year-old, who is now rumoured to be valued at around £5 million by League One Barnsley, is being likened to Sinclair.
"I see that," Featherstone said.
"He's probably not as powerful but he's sharper, he's quicker over a shorter distance. They're very similar in terms of where they're at in their careers.
"Reyes was probably slightly behind; Tyrese is very experienced for someone his age, he's played a lot of games at this level and he's played a lot of games in decent teams. He's probably slightly ahead of Reyes in terms of where he's at experience-wise, but they're very similar in terms of quality and the work-rate they bring as well."