Hartlepool United suffer Ben Killip injury blow plus Dave Challinor's message to Derby County loanee Henrich Ravas ahead of Notts County clash

The 25-year-old stopper was forced off with the issue during Pools’ 2-2 draw at Boreham Wood, when forward Rhys Oates was forced to play in goal.

When asked about Killip ahead of his side’s home meeting with Notts County, Challinor said: “He had an x-ray, all clear in terms of that. He went to see a specialist and the news isn’t great but that’s through assessment rather than actual fact. He’ll be scanned on Tuesday and we’ll see where we’re at.

"The reality is that if the injury he’s got is what the specialist thinks then he won’t play again this season.

“It’s not that it’s career threatening or anything like that but it’s probably going to be an eight to 12 week injury but like I say we will need that confirmed with the scan.

“Ben is probably more positive than what the surgeon has said, he’s obviously sore and bruised but he’s convinced he’ll play again.

“It’s easy to speculate either way but we need to get nailed on proof about what’s going on beneath the skin and with the ligaments in his elbow.”

“The way he’s landed he’s given the medial ligament a right stretch, now whether that’s ruptured or completely torn, or whether it’s 75 per cent torn, we don’t know until the scan."

With Killip out injured, Derby loanee Henrich Ravas will start in goal for Pools against Notts County.

"I think being a goalkeeper is recognising there is only one place, it’s not like a centre-back who might be able to do a job at right-back or wing-back,” Challinor added.

“If you are a goalkeeper there is one spot, you can’t play anywhere else so what you have to do is work hard, train well and recognise that football is very unpredictable.

"That is the situation that has come across and an opportunity arises for Henrich that he has been crying out for for a large part of the season.

"From his perspective it’s now about him going in there and doing a good job and making sure the shirt now is his.”

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