TREVOR CARSON has returned to training with Hartlepool United – but is unlikely to be risked before the season ends.

The Northern Ireland international has not played since January after shoulder surgery, but a sooner than expected recover saw him join in with his team-mates this morning.

With Joe Fryer, on loan from Middlesbrough, impressing in goal of late, there’s no need to rush Carson back.

But with back up keeper Adam Bartlett calling time on his professional career to sign for Darlington, Carson could be a welcome experienced presence on the bench when Pools take on Barnet on Saturday.

"He's joined in today,’’ said boss Dave Jones. "Whether he's ready to go and play or sit on the bench? I don't know.

"He was telling me three months ago when I first came in that 'I'm here if you need me'!

"You have to take into consideration not just what Trev says but the specialist and Buster and until Buster hands him over, we have to adhere top what he says.

"He's waited a long time to have the operation to fix his problem. Why risk doing any damage to it?

"I've been there myself, offered myself up to play when I probably wasn't ready.

"You are not doing yourself justice or doing yourself any favours in that situation.

"[If it does not go right] you get pasted from every quarter.

"Just because you offer yourself up, it does not mean it's the right thing to do.

"You have to be fit, you have to be ready.

"If you have a niggle, maybe play him, but coming back from an op? I don't think so.’’

He added: "Mags came back in ahead of schedule and he's done fantastic.

"But you have to be careful about getting sucked into playing [when you are not ready]. The game is littered with players who have gone out and played and done more damage.

"I've done it myself and ended up being out longer than what I should have been.

"I don't think we should be tempted with Trev."

Jones will be witho

TREVOR CARSON has returned to training with Hartlepool United – but is unlikely to be risked before the season ends.

The Northern Ireland international has not played since January after shoulder surgery, but a sooner than expected recover saw him join in with his team-mates this morning.

With Joe Fryer, on loan from Middlesbrough, impressing in goal of late, there’s no need to rush Carson back.

But with back up keeper Adam Bartlett calling time on his professional career to sign for Darlington, Carson could be a welcome experienced presence on the bench when Pools take on Barnet on Saturday.

"He's joined in today,’’ said boss Dave Jones. "Whether he's ready to go and play or sit on the bench? I don't know.

"He was telling me three months ago when I first came in that 'I'm here if you need me'!

"You have to take into consideration not just what Trev says but the specialist and Buster and until Buster hands him over, we have to adhere top what he says.

"He's waited a long time to have the operation to fix his problem. Why risk doing any damage to it?

"I've been there myself, offered myself up to play when I probably wasn't ready.

"You are not doing yourself justice or doing yourself any favours in that situation.

"[If it does not go right] you get pasted from every quarter.

"Just because you offer yourself up, it does not mean it's the right thing to do.

"You have to be fit, you have to be ready.

"If you have a niggle, maybe play him, but coming back from an op? I don't think so.’’

He added: "Mags came back in ahead of schedule and he's done fantastic.

"But you have to be careful about getting sucked into playing [when you are not ready]. The game is littered with players who have gone out and played and done more damage.

"I've done it myself and ended up being out longer than what I should have been.

"I don't think we should be tempted with Trev."

Jones will be without defender Liam Donnelly for two games, after his red card on Monday at Orient.

He was dismissed for squaring up to referee Dean Whitestone in the last minute and sits out two games because it was his second sending-off of the season.

Jones, however, feels, his defender was fortunate to escape to with only a two-game suspension: "He's lucky he didn't get 10.

"You see players squaring up to players, but not to a referee. It's stupidity.

"He knows you can't do that, he's been told but he doesn't need telling.

"That's not my job to tell a player not to put his head in on the ref."

ut defender Liam Donnelly for two games, after his red card on Monday at Orient.

He was dismissed for squaring up to referee Dean Whitestone in the last minute and sits out two games because it was his second sending-off of the season.

Jones, however, feels, his defender was fortunate to escape to with only a two-game suspension: "He's lucky he didn't get 10.

"You see players squaring up to players, but not to a referee. It's stupidity.

"He knows you can't do that, he's been told but he doesn't need telling.

"That's not my job to tell a player not to put his head in on the ref."