NATHAN Thomas faces a waiting game to see if he will be involved against his former club tomorrow.

The Hartlepool United winger has made two substitute appearances for Hartlepool after missing three months following groin surgery.

He played 60 minutes for the reserve side in midweek, but a decision has yet to be made on his selection for the game at Mansfield.

After a rusty outing for the first-team late last Saturday, Jones said of Thomas: “Nathan played in midweek for the reserves and he has to get back to what he was doing before – playing well and scoring, but I didn’t see that.

“It’s now down to Nathan to put all he has got into getting fit. Sometimes players, the onus is on them rather than the coach.

“We give the guidelines and give them the tools. Is he close to fitness? Yes, because he’s training and playing games with us.

“Now it’s up to him to show the staff and players he is up to a level we know he is capable of producing.

“Do that and we will all be happy.’’

Thomas tore a groin in defeat at Barnet in October and he had netted seven times before his injury.

Jones added: “Nathan is back from three months out and we have to be careful. The problem is after an injury you use other muscles and you have to be careful not to pull something else.

“You have worked on one part of an injury to get fit and we have a plan now where if they are back they are fit to play.

“A one-off game, a cup final or the like, and they could play, but why risk them if they are going to miss another month through injury on the back of it?

“The culture of the club now is that if they are fit and we feel they are ready – and it’s not good sitting on the bench in the hope they give us this or that – then the mentality is that I always have had is that no matter how good the player he has to be right.’’