CARL MAGNAY is back with the Hartlepool United squad, with boss Dave Jones to decide if he is fit to return to action.

The right-back has been out of action since September when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the home draw with Mansfield.

To return to training in under six months is testimony to his outlook and the work of the club’s physio staff, but boss Dave Jones remains on the side of caution.

He kept him out of the midweek reserve game in order to train with the first-team at a high level and Jones said: "We kept Mags with us because of the intensity we've been working at. It's best that he's been working with us.

"You can duck and dive in reserve games and not be at full pelt whereas with us we can intensify things. A shout for Saturday? Not to play probably, but he could go on the bench.

"Mags is well ahead of schedule and we'll have a talk to see what we do."

Pools take on Portsmouth at home tomorrow, with the visitors selling their near-1000 ticket allocation. As a former boss of Pompey’s rivals Southampton, Jones joked yesterday he is sure to be in for a string of abuse.

"I'm sure I'll be reminded that I was at Southampton – they won't have forgotten!’’ he said. "One game I went to Fratton Park they were making chants and I'd only gone there to watch a mate!"

He added: "They are trying to get out of the division and are one of the favourites.

"They have a very good team, really good players, and fantastic support. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

"I know their manager and he has a good side, they'll be hard to beat, and if we do get result we'll have earned it."

Rhys Oates could be back in contention tomorrow after being out of the starting XI for the last two games after feeling the effects of a regular run the side.

Jones said: "He was back in the squad at Blackpool but he pulled up in the warm-up, he felt it, so we pulled him out straight away.

"We've been doing stuff with him this week and we've had the help of a local gym to do work there.

"Hopefully that will benefit him and we'll asssess him over the next day or so."

Of other injuries, Jones said: “Billy (Paynter) has had an operation and he’s out for the season, Trevor (Carson) isn’t going to ready. We are looking at Mags to see maybe if he is on the bench. But we wait on Rhys and a couple of other knocks. We get on with it.''

n Leyton Orient have accepted the resignation of first-team manager Danny Webb after only two months in charge. Webb was the fourth man to take charge of Orient, bottom of League Two, this season - their tenth manager in less than three years - but after just two wins in 12 games in charge the 33-year-old has left along with goalkeeper coach Martin Brennan. Assistant manager Omer Riza will take over as first-team manager until the end of the season.