HARTLEPOOL United have been dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that Trevor Carson is likely to be out for the season.

The Northern Irishman, part of Michael O'Neill's international squad and widely regarded as the best keeper in League Two, needs shoulder surgery to repair a long-standing problem.

Carson has been playing in pain for a number of months now and has today visited a specialist in Liverpool, when he was given the news. 

Adam Bartlett will now be first-choice for boss Craig Hignett, backed up by Ben Dudzinski. 

Pools' head physio Ian Gallagher told the club's website: “Trevor will have surgery in two weeks and could be out for up to six months afterwards.

“It’s an exploratory operation where the surgeon will go in, find the damage and then repair what he sees but it’s very likely he will now be missing for the rest of the season.

“Credit to Trevor, he’s been putting up with a lot of pain for quite some time now and he’s been determined to play in every game but it’s got to the point where we’ve had to do something about it.’’

Hignett, who earlier today signed left-back Sean Kavanagh from Fulham on loan until the end of the season, said: "His last game against Morecambe... he couldn’t go on any more and we covered it well.''#

Meanwhile, Scott Flinders, the former Pools keeper, has left York City by mutual consent.