CARL Magnay, the Hartlepool United captain, could be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

The right-back has been suffering from a hernia problem in recent games and is due to have surgery next week to rectify the issue.

Magnay sat out the recent FA Cup win at South Shields to rest and was forced off an hour into Tuesday’s draw with Tranmere at Victoria Park.

He could continue to play through the pain barrier, but an operation seems more likely.

“It’s down to personal thresholds and how much they can take. I know Nicky Featherstone played eight, nine, ten weeks with a hernia last year and is that the right decision? You never know,’’ reflected boss Craig Harrison.

“But he’s down for an op next week and we see how he wants to manage it. Does it get put back or go ahead?

“It won’t cause any more damage, you can play with a sportsman’s hernia, but do you want to get it fixed and get back fully fit? There’s arguments on both sides, no definitive answer.

“Yes he is injured and if he plays through it won’t make it any worse, it’s how you get through it.’’

Magnay missed the bulk of last season after suffering a knee ligament injury and, while surgery next week would keep him out, he would be back fit and ready around the turn of the year.

“Carl has had it a few weeks now,’’ added Harrison, who is already without the suspended Devante Rodney for tomorrow’s game at Torquay.

“All characters are different, I’ve seen in modern-day football with foreign players there are one per cent down on what they should be and they won’t play.

“That’s how they have been brought up at a professional level. Can Mags get through it? He’s been dosing up in training and in games to come through it. If he can then great, but we don’t want to put him in a position where he won’t do himself or the team justice.

“You don’t want to go out there knowing at some point you have to be taken off. We had to make a defensive change on Tuesday when we wanted to win the game.

“He is captain, a leader and been playing through it. But if he can’t through a game and we have to make a defensive sub each game then we only have two other subs we can use.’’

Ryan Donaldson (ankle) is out for around ten weeks following surgery, and Pools have suffered their share of injuries this season.

Centre-half Keith Watson impressed on loan from St Johnstone, but he picked up a knee injury in last month’s win at Orient. Pools are overseeing his recovery, with his loan due to expire at the turn of the year.

There’s still no definitive answer on when the Scot will return, but Pools hope to avoid surgery and get him back sooner rather than later.

"It's ongoing with Keith,’’ said Harrison. “If he gets up to 70 per cent weight-bearing on the underwater treadmill over the next few weeks then he won't need surgery.

"It's a week on week process to see how he's progressing, he's off to see the specialist in a few weeks.

"It's hard work but he's training every day in the gym or the under-water treadmill or zero-gravity running machine.

"At this moment in time it's good - but we'll only know when he gets though this period before he sees the specialist.

"If we don't need an op for him that'll cut his recovery time down by a third."