NICKY Deverdics is now starting to show his value to Hartlepool United.

Signed in the summer from Dover Athletic, Deverdics has taken his time to both earn a starting spot in the side and prove his worth.

After 15 goals and 18 assists Deverdics was one of the top talents in the National League last season.

But he had to wait until the FA Cup win over part-timers Stamford on November 6 – his 14th outing – for his first goal, before netting a spectacular second in midweek.

Deverdics took off to acrobatically volley Pools into the lead against Accrington.

He’s assured of a run in the side in the absence of the injured Nathan Thomas and Hignett said: “We are without Nath, but Nicky has done well. Nicky is a really good player, but come here from a National League side that doesn’t train every day so it was always going to take time to adjust.

“His ability is there to see and he’s needed a run of games. We know what a good player he is – he has an eye for a pass, set-piece delivery in and around the box is good and he’s a goal threat himself with 15 goals last season.

“He’s had a couple of goes in the side early on, but it didn’t quite work out for him.

“We were always going to persevere with him and we know what he can do and he’s starting to show what he can do now.’’

Thomas and Carl Magnay are both out long-term for Pools.

Magnay with damaged knee ligaments, while Thomas is recovering from surgery to repair a tore groin.

While it would be a welcome surprise to see Magnay back before the season ends, it is planned that Thomas should return by the end of January.

Thomas suffered the injury in the defeat at Barnet earlier this month, while Magnay’s injury came in the home draw with Mansfield in mid-September.

Hignett said: “Nath and Mags are progressing nicely. They are still some way off, but Mags is a bit ahead of schedule with movement in his knee. He’s flying.

“Nath is a bit sore from the op still and is up and moving and I think he’s going to about eight weeks at least. Maybe more, as when he’s back training he will need a bit of a pre-season under his belt to get him back up to a level of fitness.

“You can’t rush them back and it’s going to be a while yet. He is scheduled to be fit somewhere around the end of January, so let’s see what happens.’’

Jordan Richards and Liam Donnelly both missed the midweek win over Accrington, but Hignett said: “Jordy and Liam are OK. Jordy could have played the other night, but Liam is out training again now, nothing serious.’’

Accrington, meanwhile, successfully appealed against the red card issued to defender Mark Hughes on Tuesday.

Referee Richard Clark felt Hughes denied Padraig Amond a scoring opportunity in the second-half and also awarded Pools a penalty. The centre-half is now able to play against Yeovil tomorrow.

Stanley boss John Coleman said: “It was a no brainer to appeal. A decision was made for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity and the player was nowhere near the ball and had no chance of ever getting to the ball.

“A few top refs who have watched it with me have agreed that they don’t think it’s a foul. We can only say that it’s an unfortunate error.’’