Hartlepool United manager provides update on future of midfielder Brad Walker
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone has revealed that midfielder Brad Walker has suffered a calf tear.
The 29-year-old hasn't featured since October 1, leading some fans to speculate that he'd fallen out of favour under Featherstone and could be set to head out on loan.
However, Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport that the former Crewe, Port Vale and Tranmere man had in fact been sidelined through injury.
While Walker is understood to be making progress on the road to recovery, the Pools boss revealed he had suffered "a minor setback" that looks likely to delay his return for at least another few weeks.
The midfielder, who can also operate as a centre-half, has endured a difficult season so far having re-signed for Pools in June, becoming former manager Simon Grayson's first new addition of the summer.
Walker came through the ranks at Pools and made his professional debut in August 2013. At the end of a breakthrough season in which he scored three times in 42 appearances, Walker was crowned as the Football League's apprentice of the year and started to establish himself as an exciting young talent.
The next few years would prove to be up-and-down for Walker, who fell out of favour under Ronnie Moore before being restored to the side by Craig Hignett and finding favour as a centre-half towards the end of his time at Victoria Park.
Indeed, Walker impressed in defence under controversial former boss Dave Jones but his form wasn't enough to save Pools from a first ever relegation to the National League in 2017. In the wake of the club's relegation, Walker turned down the offer of a new deal in order to remain in the Football League, penning a two-year contract with League Two Crewe. In total, Walker scored 10 goals in 123 games during his first spell at Victoria Park.
Since then, the versatile midfielder has gone on to turn out for a number of different clubs, enjoying successful spells at the likes of Wrexham and Shrewsbury but struggling with various injuries during stints at Port Vale and Tranmere.
Walker spent the 18 months prior to returning to Pools at Prenton Park. Although he was generally held in high regard by Tranmere supporters, he once again found it difficult to keep fit and establish himself in the side, missing the entire second half of last season following a hamstring injury that required surgery.
Walker held talks with Tranmere over a new deal in the summer but opted instead to return closer to home and sign for Pools, becoming one of a whole host of new additions over the summer.
The midfielder looked sharp in pre-season and found himself in and around the first team picture under Grayson, who described him as "a proper footballer", making 12 appearances.
However, Walker hasn't been seen since coming off the bench during the defeat to Carlisle on October 1 and had been linked with a loan move to National League North side Spennymoor.
Despite speculation he could be set to leave Victoria Park, however, Featherstone revealed that Walker has been sidelined through injury and that Pools are set to carefully manage his eventual return.
"Brad's always been at the training ground," the Pools boss told BBC Radio Tees Sport.
"He's injured, he's had a slight tear in his calf. He's had a minor setback; he's tried running recently and he's broken down a little bit.
"He shouldn't be too long. Before we can re-involve Brad, he's not played a lot of games this season and he's been out for a period of time now, so he's another one who will probably benefit from a two or three week mini pre-season or something like that.
"Don't expect to see him involved in the next few games, but he'll be involved in a month's time or so."