HARTLEPOOL UNITED have received positive news on Ryan Donaldson’s hamstring injury, even if the forward has been ruled out of the next two away dates.

The 27-year-old hobbled out of last Saturday’s draw with Eastleigh before half-time and there were fears that he could be out for a decent chunk of the campaign.

However, manager Matthew Bates has reported that Donaldson’s problem is not thought to be too serious and that he could even be back for the visit of Aldershot on Saturday week.

That means he misses this weekend’s trip to Halifax plus the visit to Salford, as Pools look to extend an eight-match unbeaten run.

“Ryan will miss the weekend as well and the one after, we hope to have him back for Aldershot,” said Bates. “Apart from that we are OK, nothing new. Aldershot is the aim, if it is fine then he won’t train until Thursday next week.

“Ryan is a big miss because he has been one of our best players. We thought Andrew Davies would be a miss – and he has been – but players have still stepped up into his shoes and that’s what we need in next two games.”

Bates is not short of options to fill the Donaldson void, with Kenton Richardson the man asked to play last weekend. Lewis Hawkins and Peter Kioso are among the alternatives too.

One forward-thinker Pools would have preferred to have available would be former Middlesbrough playmaker Luke Williams. He is yet to play since arriving on a free from Scunthorpe.

Bates said: “He is OK, fine. He got a kick at the end of last week and hasn’t trained this week. It’s frustrating for the lad and us, he came in to us with an illness, returned to training and then got a kick.

“I can say how frustrating it is for him because of all the injuries I went through as a player. Dare I say we have not missed him in terms of results, I might be more worried if we had not got those.”

Hartlepool also hope to have key defender Davies, signed in the summer from Ross County, available again for the visit of Aldershot.

Bates said: “We want all our players fit, when he got injured we were a little worried. Carl Magnay has stepped up and been magnificent. We have to give him time, he will be chomping to get back, and this week might be too soon.

“He is back outside, kicking a ball about but not joined in yet. It’s step by step, fingers crossed we will see for Tuesday and then after.”