CAPTAIN Billy Paynter made his return from injury with a goal this week, but the Hartlepool United striker won’t be involved this weekend.

Pools head for Cambridge this morning, with Paynter left behind. The top scorer won’t be happy at missing tomorrow’s game – boss Ronnie Moore accepts as much – although the decision has been taken to make sure he’s available for the remainder of the season.

Paynter has not played since the FA Cup win over Cheltenham on November 7 because of Achilles trouble.

With a busy couple of months ahead, Moore wants his skipper fit and available.

“We’ve Saturday – Tuesday coming up regularly now with a decent-sized squad,’’ said Moore, who missed out on a new midfield enforcer this week.

“We give our all, manage players like Billy who aren’t a million miles away. But he can’t do Saturday – Tuesday – Saturday – Tuesday now and there’s others too.

“Give us all you can for 90 minutes and then we can change it around.

“We know with Billy he will want to travel on Saturday to Cambridge – but he’s not, there’s no doubt about that.

“He has been out a long time, desperate to play. We stick him on the bench, turn around look at him and you know he’s looking back at you like a puppy with those sad eyes just to try and get out there and play a game.

“You put him on, he has a little calf strain, he’s out for weeks. He’s worked really hard to get fit, but matches and games are different.

“Leave it a few days, there’s a reserve game next week. He doesn’t have to travel this weekend for hours, stop to train, get back on the bus and there’s no many things to look at.

“I know he will be upset by it, but there’s no way he can do it yet.’’

Paynter scored in Wednesday’s 4-0 reserve win over Rotherham and Moore admitted: “He can’t travel, we look at him to be right for Exeter next weekend. Our physio Buster (Gallagher) is trying to keep him on the lead, he’s desperate to get back, but we see players coming back from injury and it’s not the injury they’ve had which kicks in, it’s a different one.

“I can play reserve team football, where you aren’t really rushing. Up the pace and movement and you aren’t quite right in the first-team. For the sake of half an hour at the weekend, we protect him for weeks and months.

“It’s better for him and the club. He will be back soon, starting or on the bench, but it’s nice to have him involved – a good talker, a good voice in the dressing room.’’

Pools were poor in defeat at Accrington in midweek, one of their four games in hand played and wasted away.

Moore, desperate to see a positive reaction tomorrow, added: “With games in hand, the big thing is that. It’s alright having four in hand, but it’s three now.

“That’s what we have to learn, games in hand are a Brucey Bonus – whatever you want to call them.

“If you don’t win them, the fear remains of where we are. It’s getting that consistency we need.

“There’s games in hand, we would rather have the points in the bag.’’

Pools signed striker Ellis Harrison on loan for a month from Bristol Rovers last weekend. He played at Accrington and will start tomorrow.

Last weekend, Nathan Thomas made his debut after moving from Mansfield and of the pair Moore said: “It’s been difficult for Ellis, comes in Monday, plays Tuesday. He scored Sunday for Bristol Rovers which shows he’s not lacking in confidence and he’s a good player.

“It was hard for him Tuesday as we didn’t get on the ball as a team and play decent balls. With him and Bings up front they looked quite sharp, balls in behind with pace.

“He will be alright for us, no doubt about that.

“There’s more to come from Nathan – a typical winger who can open the door no problem and he got the goal against Wycombe.

“The other night we didn’t see him, which wasn’t his fault as we didn’t get on the ball and give it to him.

“He is one who needs games, needs fitness, but we have him here until the end of the season and we can crack on with him.’’