Pools defender not ready for MK Dons
NEIL Austin will have to wait another week to make his Hartlepool United return despite resuming training ahead of schedule.
Austin was not risked in Pools second string's 2-0 defeat to Gateshead yesterday after three-and-a-half weeks out with ankle ligament damage.
Last season's Player of the Year returning to full training on Tuesday but caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth opted not to risk the defender in a match situation.
That will put paid to Austin's chances of featuring in Saturday's televised clash at MK Dons with Steve Haslam to continue at right-back.
Instead, Austin is set to play in Pools reserves' tie with Scunthorpe next Wednesday and will be in contention for the first team's Victoria Park encounter with Exeter City three days later.
Wadsworth said: "He trained with full football training on Tuesday for the first time and did very well.
"He came through with no reaction.
"It was still a little bit too soon to think of him for yesterday.
"We've got to make sure he's right as much as we want him back in the squad because he's a big player for us.
"We have to do it right as we have done with Ritchie (Humphreys).
"Hopefully he'll be taking part in next week's reserve game and then be available for the Exeter game."
FULL story in Thursday's Mail
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterlee
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
