'We want you here' – Dave Challinor's new contract deal message for 'integral' Hartlepool United midfielder Nicky Featherstone following Notts County brace

The in-form playmaker is out of contract at Victoria Park this summer with Challinor keen to tie his key players down for the 2020-21 campaign.

The United boss has frequently praised the ‘integral’ Featherstone, who has started every match since the change in management back in November.

Pools beat Notts County 2-0 thanks to a brace from the midfielder with Challinor stating afterwards: “Feaths is someone who is integral to our squad and that we want to keep.

“We’re on the front foot as a club in terms of saying ‘we want you here’ which is a new position for him.

“In the recent past he’s had to hang on to the end of the season to see if he’s still required and to see if a potential ‘upgrade’ is out there.

“But he’s been brilliant, for him to get two goals is fantastic and hopefully he can continue to perform at the consistent level that he has.”

At the start of the season, Featherstone was player who divided opinion with supporters and was in and out of the team.

Under Challinor, the 31-year-old has emerged as a stand-out performer in a hugely competitive Pools midfield and seems to have silenced even the harshest critics.

The former Hull City man is set to pass the 250 appearance mark for Pools over the next week with only on loan defender Gary Liddle playing more times for the club in the current squad.

“We know he’s a good footballer,” Challinor added.

“I know of all the players in the team, I can pass the ball to Nicky with a player up his backside and he will take it all day long and try to get out of it.

“That’s something that I want players to do and we’re getting better at that. He is a shining example to the rest of the squad that you’ve got to go and commit to doing something and we’re reaping the rewards of that and hopefully he will too.”