Important Hartlepool United injury update following top scorer's notable absence in Maidenhead United defeat

It was the first match Armstrong had missed due to injury since arriving at Victoria Park on loan from Salford City back in December as Pools suffered their first home defeat in over five months.

The striker felt a tight hamstring at the back end of Hartlepool’s bank holiday Monday defeat at Bromley once all three substitutes had been made. And manager Dave Challinor felt he couldn’t risk the 24-year-old at this crucial stage of the season while there are still important league and play-off games to come.

Pools currently sit fourth in the National League table with three games remaining and a play-off place virtually secured.

“If that was a play-off final, he probably would have played [against Maidenhead],” said the Pools boss.

“He’ll train from Tuesday next week and hopefully he’ll have no reaction and he’ll be available for us on Saturday.

"I’d suggest if he played [on Saturday] then we had a significant risk of him being out for the rest of the season which was something we couldn’t afford to do.

"We had options at the top end of the pitch which made the decision easier but he’ll come back into the fold for us next weekend [at Aldershot].

"I’m sure he was looking on and thinking he could have scored a couple especially in the second half but it wasn’t to be.”

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