MICHAEL Duckworth has suffered a setback in his comeback from injury.

The Hartlepool United right back strained a hamstring in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game with Sheffield United on September 1.

He returned to light training last week, but boss Ronnie Moore said: “Ducky has come back and looked sharp, but done his hamstring in training again which puts him back another month or so.’’

Carl Magnay, who initially deputised for Duckworth, still has one game of a three-match suspension remaining, while Jordan Richards is out with a back problem.

Moore signed Brad Halliday on loan from Middlesbrough to cover the triple absence and he gave an assured display.

And Moore warned his players: “Halliday did well again, we’ve got players to play in that position and if Halliday plays like that then the others don’t come back – he’s good on the ball and attacks well.

“Brad Halliday is a battler, gets in there and his mobility is top-drawer. If he finished off the chance from his run we would be talking it for years to come.’’

Halliday was a regular on loan at York last season and admitted: “The result left us disappointed. We deserved to win. Probably the last pass, shot and final ball was the difference.

“I think I should have finished it, I’m a bit disappointed that the keeper saved it.

“I like to get forward from right-back and get involved, it’s a big attribute to my game and defensively I feel strong.

“I played at this level at York last season, and I think it’s helped me as a player and boosted my career.

“I’ve played two games for Hartlepool and only got one point, when we could have come away with six. This point can set us off on a good run.’’

Andrew Boyce played the final game of his loan spell on Saturday, but Pools are expected to extend it into a second month today.